Validity and Relative Validity of Alternative Methods of Assessing Physical Activity in Epidemiologic Studies: Findings From the Men’s Lifestyle Validation Study

Abstract

In the Men’s Lifestyle Validation Study (2011-2013), we examined the validity and relative validity of a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ), web-based 24-hour recalls (ACT24) and accelerometers by multiple comparison methods. Over one year, 609 men completed two PAQs, two 7-day accelerometer measures, one doubly labeled water (DLW)-physical activity level (PAL) measure (repeated, n=100), four ACT24s and resting pulse rate. A subset (n=197) completed dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)(repeated, n=99). The method of triads was used to estimate correlations with true activity using DLW-PAL, accelerometer, and PAQ or ACT24 as alternative comparison measures. Estimated correlations (95% confidence intervals) of the PAQ with true activity were 0.60 (0.52, 0.68) for total activity, 0.69 (0.61, 0.79) for moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and 0.76 (0.62, 0.93) for vigorous activity. Corresponding correlations for total activity were 0.53 (0.45, 0.63) for the average of four ACT24s and 0.68 (0.61, 0.75) for accelerometer. Total activity and MVPA measured by PAQ, ACT24, and accelerometer were all significantly correlated with body fat and resting pulse rate, which are physiological indicators of physical activity. Using a combination of comparison methods, we found the PAQ and accelerometer to have moderate validity for assessing physical activity, especially MVPA, in epidemiologic studies.

Long-Term Leisure-Time Physical Activity Intensity and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort of US Adults

“…The reproducibility and validity of physical activity questionnaire have previously been described. 15–18 From the biennial questionnaires, participants were asked to report average hours they spent during the past year on various activities, including walking, jogging, running, swimming, bicycling, performing calisthenics and other aerobic exercises, playing squash/racquetball or tennis, engaging in lower-intensity exercise, weightlifting, and working outdoors. To quantify the intensity of physical activity, we assigned a metabolic equivalent task (MET), which designates metabolic rates for a specific activity divided by metabolic rates at rest according to a compendium of physical activities.…”

“…The reproducibility and validity of physical activity questionnaire have previously been described. [15][16][17][18] From the biennial questionnaires, participants were asked to report average hours they spent during the past year on various activities, including walking, jogging, running, swimming, bicycling, performing calisthenics and other aerobic exercises, playing squash/racquetball or tennis, engaging in lower-intensity exercise, weightlifting, and working outdoors.…”

Healthy Eating for Successful Living in Older Adults™ community education program—evaluation of lifestyle behaviors: A randomized controlled trial

“…Using the classification by Ainsworth et al (1993) , metabolic equivalent task (MET)-hours/week were estimated by multiplying the MET score for each activity by the reported hours per week and summing across all activities ( Colditz et al, 2003 ; Eliassen et al, 2010 ). This self-reported physical activity measure is used extensively in research studies and has been validated in both men and women ( Al-Shaar et al, 2022 ; Pernar et al, 2022 ).…”

Subjective and Objective Assessment of Physical Activity in Older Adults: Results from Berlin Aging Study II

“…To account for and examine activity related effects, a reliable assessment of overall PA in the past and on a daily basis is pivotal in epidemiological health studies. However, PA is a multidimensional process [4] and to date no gold standard for its assessment is available [5].…”

“…To account for and examine activity related effects, a reliable assessment of overall PA in the past and on a daily basis is pivotal in epidemiological health studies. However, PA is a multidimensional process [4] and to date no gold standard for its assessment is available [5]. Questionnaires on PA impress with their simplicity, low costs, and easy repeatability but were shown to have limited validity when compared to other methods [5] and differ in the degree of resolution and time-frame of assessing PA. Another way of measuring PA is through accelerometers that assess more objectively the acceleration of the body part they are attached to (often in three axis).…”