Pedometer-determined physical activity and its comparison with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in a sample of Belgian adults

Res Q Exerc Sport. 2007 Dec;78(5):429-37. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2007.10599443.

Abstract

Pedometer-determined physical activity (PA) levels in Belgian adults were provided and compared to PA scores reported in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The representative sample (N=1239) of the Belgian population took on average 9655 (4526) steps/day. According to pedometer indices 58.4% were insufficiently active. Steps/day differed significantly between gender (F = 5.0, p = .026), age groups (F = 3.3, p = .01), employment status (F = 6.2, p = .013), and days of monitoring (F = 7.4, p = .007). Steps/day were negatively correlated to the time spent sitting and positively to PA at work, in transport, and in leisure time (p < .001). Steps data can discriminate between PA levels reported in the IPAQ. Belgian population pedometer-determined PA levels are higher than those reported in samples of the United States; however, there is a wide distribution of ambulatory behavior

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Belgium
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*