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and 6.3, respectively. Rules for data cleaning and processing prior to computing the
algorithms appear in Section 7.
Regular participation is a key concept included in current public health guidelines for
physical activity.
1
Therefore, both the total volume and the number of days/sessions
are included in the IPAQ analysis algorithms.
The criteria for these levels have been set taking into account that IPAQ asks
questions in all domains of daily life, resulting in higher median MET-minutes
estimates than would have been estimated from leisure-time participation alone. The
criteria for these three levels are shown below.
Given that measures such as IPAQ assess total physical activity in all domains, the
“leisure time physical activity” based public health recommendation of 30 minutes on
most days will be achieved by most adults in a population. Although widely accepted
as a goal, in absolute terms 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity is low and
broadly equivalent to the background or basal levels of activity adult individuals
would accumulate in a day. Therefore a new, higher cutpoint is needed to describe
the levels of physical activity associated with health benefits for measures such as
IPAQ, which report on a broad range of domains of physical activity.
‘High’
This category was developed to describe higher levels of participation. Although it is
known that greater health benefits are associated with increased levels of activity
there is no consensus on the exact amount of activity for maximal benefit. In the
absence of any established criteria, the IPAQ Research Committee proposes a
measure which equates to approximately at least one hour per day or more, of at
least moderate-intensity activity above the basal level of physical activity Considering
that basal activity may be considered to be equivalent to approximately 5000 steps
per day, it is proposed that “high active” category be considered as those who move
at least 12,500 steps per day, or the equivalent in moderate and vigorous activities.
This represents at least an hour more moderate-intensity activity over and above the
basal level of activity, or half an hour of vigorous-intensity activity over and above
basal levels daily. These calculations were based on emerging results of pedometers
studies.
2
This category provides a higher threshold of measures of total physical activity and is
a useful mechanism to distinguish variation in population groups. Also it could be
used to set population targets for health-enhancing physical activity when multidomain
instruments, such as IPAQ are used.
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1
Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, Haskell WL , Macera CA, Bouchard C et al. Physical activity and public health. A
recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. Journal
of American Medical Association 1995; 273(5):402-7. and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity
and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, The Presidents' Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports: Atlanta, GA:USA. 1996.
2
Tudor-Locke C, Bassett DR Jr. How many steps/day are enough? Preliminary pedometer indices for public health. Sports
Med. 2004;34(1):1-8.
‘Moderate’