Physical Activity Measurement

Clinical intent

The purpose of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) is to provide common instruments that can be used to obtain internationally comparable data on health–related physical activity [1]. It was developed by the International Consensus Group on Physical Activity Measurement during the 90's [2].

The subject is asked a few questions about their physical activity (PA) during a typical week. The questions are categorized per level of physical activity:

1. Light PA (eg walking)
2. Moderate PA (eg cycling)
3. Vigorous PA (eg running)

For each category (light, moderate or vigorous PA) there are two questions asked:

1. How many days in a typical week do you perfom that kind of activity? (answer between [0-7])
2. How much time in a typical day do you usually spend on that activity? (answer in minutes/day)

Question 2 is not asked when answer on question 1 is 0.

Clinical interpretation

You perform sufficient physical activity when the total amount of PA in minutes/week > 150 or the total amount of PA in MET-minutes/week >= 600.

References

[1] Ainsworth BE, Bassett DR Jr, Strath SJ, Swartz AM, O'Brien WL, Thompson RW, Jones DA, Macera CA, Kimsey CD. Comparison of three methods for measuring the time spent in physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Sep;32(9 Suppl):S457-64. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200009001-00004. PMID: 10993415.
[2] MICHAEL BOOTH, International Consensus Group on Physical Activity Measurement, International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 25, Issue 6, December 1996, Pages 1312–1313, https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/25.6.1312