The International Prevalence Study on Physical Activity: results from 20 countries

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Mar 2009

Background Physical activity (PA) is one of the most important factors for improving population health, but no standardised systems exist for international surveillance. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was developed for international surveillance. The purpose of this study was a comparative international study of population physical activity prevalence across 20 countries. Methods Between 2002–2004, a standardised protocol using IPAQ was used to assess PA participation in 20 countries [total N = 52,746, aged 18–65 years]. The median survey response rate was 61%. Physical activity levels were categorised as "low", "moderate" and "high". Age-adjusted prevalence estimates are presented by sex. Results The prevalence of "high PA" varied from 21–63%; in eight countries high PA was reported for over half of the adult population. The prevalence of "low PA" varied from 9% to 43%. Males more frequently reported high PA than females in 17 of 20 countries. The prevalence of low PA ranged from 7–41% among males, and 6–49% among females. Gender differences were noted, especially for younger adults, with males more active than females in most countries. Markedly lower physical activity prevalence (10% difference) with increasing age was noted in 11 of 19 countries for males, but only in three countries for women. The ways populations accumulated PA differed, with some reporting mostly vigorous intensity activities and others mostly walking. Conclusion This study demonstrated the feasibility of international PA surveillance, and showed that IPAQ is an acceptable surveillance instrument, at least within countries. If assessment methods are used consistently over time, trend data will inform countries about the success of their efforts to promote physical activity.

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The International Prevalence Study on Physical Activity: results from 20 countries

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity The International Prevalence Study on Physical Activity: results from 20 countries Adrian Bauman 2 9 Fiona Bull 0 1 9 Tien Chey 2 9 Cora L Craig 6 9 Barbara E Ainsworth 4 9 James F Sallis 5 9 Heather R Bowles 2 9 Maria Hagstromer 3 9 Michael Sjostrom 3 9 Michael Pratt 8 9 The IPS Group 7 9 0 School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia , Australia 1 School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK 2 Centre for Physical Activity and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia 3 Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at Novum, Karolinska Institute , Stockholm , Sweden 4 Department of Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University , Mesa, AZ , USA 5 Active Living Research, San Diego State University , San Diego, CA , USA 6 Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute , Ottawa , Canada 7 IPS Collaborating research groups in each country (see Appendix 1) 8 US Centers for Disease Control, (Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch) , Atlanta, GA , USA 9 China PRC: Yang Li, Hua Fu, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fudan University , Shanghai Background: Physical activity (PA) is one of the most important factors for improving population health, but no standardised systems exist for international surveillance. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was developed for international surveillance. The purpose of this study was a comparative international study of population physical activity prevalence across 20 countries. Methods: Between 2002-2004, a standardised protocol using IPAQ was used to assess PA participation in 20 countries [total N = 52,746, aged 18-65 years]. The median survey response rate was 61%. Physical activity levels were categorised as "low", "moderate" and "high". Age-adjusted prevalence estimates are presented by sex. Results: The prevalence of "high PA" varied from 21-63%; in eight countries high PA was reported for over half of the adult population. The prevalence of "low PA" varied from 9% to 43%. Males more frequently reported high PA than females in 17 of 20 countries. The prevalence of low PA ranged from 7-41% among males, and 6-49% among females. Gender differences were noted, especially for younger adults, with males more active than females in most countries. Markedly lower physical activity prevalence (10% difference) with increasing age was noted in 11 of 19 countries for males, but only in three countries for women. The ways populations accumulated PA differed, with some reporting mostly vigorous intensity activities and others mostly walking. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of international PA surveillance, and showed that IPAQ is an acceptable surveillance instrument, at least within countries. If assessment methods are used consistently over time, trend data will inform countries about the success of their efforts to promote physical activity. - Introduction Physical inactivity is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, which along with chronic respiratory disease account for more than 60% of all deaths [1]. More than 80% of chronic disease deaths occur within low and middle income countries [LMC] [2]. The most recent estimates suggest that almost 2 million deaths per year worldwide are attributable to inactivit[1], leading to physical activity being described as 'the best buy in public health.' [3]. Despite global concerns about non-communicable disease in LMC [4], increasing obesity, and rapid changes in patterns of work, transport and recreation, physical activity surveillance and monitoring is only carried out in a few countries [5]. There is a significant gap in international physical activity surveillance, compared to surveillance of other chronic disease risk factors [6]. This gap makes it difficult to estimate the impact of physical inactivity on health outcomes. The World Health Organization pooled prevalence estimates to estimate the attributable risk of physical inactivity in the global burden of non-communicable diseases [1,7]. The lack of comparable data, along with the recent Global Strategy for Diet, Physical Activity and Health [DPAS] [8], have created a compelling need for internationally-comparable measures of physical activity that can be used to quantify population levels of exposure and monitor trends over time within and among countries. Although some countries conduct national physical activity surveillance, use of different questionnaires makes it difficult to assess inter-country differences in physical activity. In 1997, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was developed as a surveillance instrument to measure multiple domains of physical activity. This was the first effort to develop an instrument suitable for global physical activity surveillance. The goal was to i (...truncated)


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Adrian Bauman, Fiona Bull, Tien Chey, Cora L Craig, Barbara E Ainsworth, James F Sallis, Heather R Bowles, Maria Hagstromer, Michael Sjostrom, Michael Pratt, . The International Prevalence Study on Physical Activity: results from 20 countries, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2009, pp. 21, 6, DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-6-21