Development of the World Health Organization Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) (original) (raw)

Abstract

The aim of developing the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was to have a tool that would produce valid and reliable estimates of physical activity, especially relevant to developing countries where patterns of energy expenditure differ from developed countries because people experience diverse ways of life. The development of a standardized tool to measure physical activity that enables comparisons across culturally diverse populations is a challenging task. Comparable, valid, and reliable information on physical activity enables countries to follow trends over time, understand regional and global comparisons, and better inform physical activity policy decisions. A WHO expert working group on physical activity measurement provided a draft GPAQ for global consultation. The draft instrument was validated in nine countries. Validation studies and qualitative feedback on GPAQ were presented at an Expert Meeting on Global Physical Activity Surveillance held jointly by WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A second round of global consultation led to minor revisions and preparation of a final GPAQ version 2 instrument (GPAQv2). Around 50 developing countries are now using GPAQ for physical activity data collection. GPAQv2 is a suitable physical activity surveillance instrument for developing countries.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Surveillance and Population-based Prevention, Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland
   Timothy Armstrong
2. BHF National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
   Fiona Bull

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1. Timothy Armstrong
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2. Fiona Bull
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Correspondence toTimothy Armstrong.

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This article contains the views of its authors and does not necessarily represent the decisions or stated policy of WHO.

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Armstrong, T., Bull, F. Development of the World Health Organization Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ).J Public Health 14, 66–70 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-006-0024-x

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• Received: 19 December 2005
• Accepted: 10 January 2006
• Published: 02 March 2006
• Issue Date: April 2006
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-006-0024-x

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