Comparison between self-reported physical activity (IPAQ-SF) and pedometer among overweight and obese women in the MyBFF@home study

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral methods have been developed to determine a person’s physical activity level. However, there is limited evidence in determining whether someone is physically active or not. This study aims to determine the level of physical activity and to compare the usage of short version International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) and pedometer among overweight and obese women who were involved in the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at home (MyBFF@home) study.MethodsBaseline and sixth month data from the MyBFF@home study were used for this purpose. A total of 169 of overweight and obese respondents answered the IPAQ-SF and were asked to use a pedometer for 7 days. Data from IPAQ-SF were categorised as inactive and active while data from pedometer were categorised as insufficiently active and sufficiently active by standard classification. Data on sociodemographic and anthropometry were also obtained. Cohen’s kappa was applied to measure the agreement of IPAQ-SF and pedometer in determining the physical activity level. Pre-post cross tabulation table was created to evaluate the changes in physical activity over 6 months.ResultsFrom 169 available respondents, 167 (98.8%) completed the IPAQ-SF and 107 (63.3%) utilised the pedometer. A total of 102 (61.1%) respondents were categorised as active from the IPAQ-SF. Meanwhile, only 9 (8.4%) respondents were categorised as sufficiently active via pedometer. Cohen’s κ found there was a poor agreement between the two methods, κ = 0.055, p > 0.05. After sixth months, there was + 9.4% increment in respondents who were active when assessed by IPAQ-SF but − 1.3% reductions for respondents being sufficiently active when assessed by pedometer. McNemar’s test determined that there was no significant difference in the proportion of inactive and active respondents by IPAQ-SF or sufficiently active and insufficiently active by pedometer from the baseline and sixth month of intervention.ConclusionThe IPAQ-SF and pedometer were both able to measure physical activity. However, poor agreement between these two methods were observed among overweight and obese women.

Associations between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity and overweight/obesity among adults in Kota Bharu and Penang, Malaysia

“…These results are consistent with studies conducted among other sub-populations in Malaysia. For example, in a sample of overweight and obese women in Malaysia, 61.1% of them were categorised as physically active when the assessment was conducted using self-reported measures, but only 8.4% were categorised as being sufficiently active via objective measurement method using pedometers [22]. Soon and colleagues used the Lifecorder e-Step accelerometer to measure the total number of steps per day and the total energy expenditure in a sample of office workers in a public university in Malaysia [24].…”

“…A survey of employees working in government agencies in the country showed that increasing BMI was linked to lower levels of physical activity [26]. However, it is essential to note that these studies [22, 24–26] measured only the steps and physical activity levels of their participants, but not the amount of time spent on MVPA per day.…”

“…In Malaysia, previous studies had shown cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between objectively measured and self-reported physical activity with different measures of overweight and obesity [16–22]. Existing physical activity studies that are specific to the Malaysian population often depended on self-reported measures [21, 23], while accelerometer studies are still limited and had small sample sizes [24–26].…”

“…Existing physical activity studies that are specific to the Malaysian population often depended on self-reported measures [21, 23], while accelerometer studies are still limited and had small sample sizes [24–26]. Physical activity assessment among free-living Malaysian adults with both objective and self-reported measures according to domains and their associations with overweight/obesity has yet to be explored extensively [22, 27].…”

Impact of the state of emergency enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity of the elderly in Japan

“…Furthermore, low intensity PA improves athletic performance, quality of life, and the prognosis of both patients with heart failure and healthy adults [12][13][14] . There are several methods for measuring these physical activities such as self-reported questionnaires, heart rate monitoring, and pedometers [15][16][17][18][19] . Among them, wearable 3-axis accelerometers can measure body movements even at low intensity and use METs to indicate intensity 20,21) .…”