What is the IPAQ?
In 2010, globally, about 23% of adults aged 18 years and over (20% of men and 27% of women) were inadequately active. In high-income countries 26% of men and 35% of women and in low-income countries 12% of men and 24% of women had inadequate physical activity. Low or declining levels of physical activity are often associated with high or rising GDP. The decline in physical activity is partly due to inactivity in leisure time and sedentary behavior at work and at home. Increased use of passive modes of transportation also contributes to inadequate physical activity.
The burden of sedentary life as a public health problem has been recognized worldwide, but its prevalence and impact have not been systematically measured.
IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) is considered the most effective method for measuring physical activity in large groups and large populations. This questionnaire was developed to standardize the measurement of physical activity, which is a global demand, nationally and internationally and to enable evidence-based policy making.
IIPAQ was developed and tested to assess individuals aged 15-69 years according to the types of physical activity they perform as part of their daily lives. It has a short and long version.
In the short version, it measures a person's activity status by questioning the time spent in walking, moderate vigorous and vigorous physical activities.
IPAQ Results:
Active: People who are active (walking, etc.) at least 1.5 - 2 hours a day are in this group.
Moderately active: People who walk or do similar activities for an average of 30 minutes every 5 days are in this group.
Inactive: Anyone who does not fall into the other 2 groups is considered inactive.
Physical Activity Impact Survey with IPAQ
IPAQ Physical Activity Impact Study was implemented in collaboration with the Istanbul Provincial Public Health Directorate to measure the impact of the Exercise is Medicine Turkey and Physical Activity Leadership Programs, with Istanbul selected as a pilot region by the Health Promotion and Health Policy Association, the Turkey licensee of Exercise is Medicine.
As of February 2016, IPAQ was started to be implemented in Feedbox kiosk devices placed in 40 different Family Health Centers (FHCs) selected in Istanbul, divided into 4 groups. The groups were determined according to whether the family physicians assigned to the family health centers had participated in the Physical Activity Leadership Program conducted by our association, had been visited by our field representatives and informed about Exercise is Medicine Turkey, had participated in both programs, or had not participated in both programs.
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malgorzata-Wasilewska/post/How_to_measurement_physical_activity... (Accessed April 12, 2014)