Physical activity in Greenland - a methodological perspective

Title: Physical activity in Greenland - a methodical perspective

Inger Dahl-Petersen, National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark

Purpose:

 

The present study is the first population-based study in Greenland with information on physical activity using The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in combination with an objective measure (Actiheart). The aim of the present study was to provide an overview of the two methods used for examination of the activity level in Greenland including preliminary results and to discuss the applicability of the methods.

Methods:

2246 Participants in a cross-sectional population survey representative of towns and villages in West Greenland completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire about their physical activity. The long version of The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to measure time spent on physical activity in four arenas: Leisure time, home, work, and transportation. Energy expenditure in MET-minutes was calculated. The Actiheart, which is an accelerometer measuring pulse and movement, was used as an objective measure of energy expenditure.

Results:

Fifty percent of respondents reported energy expenditure of 6827 MET-minutes or more per week. The median energy expenditure for respondents living in villages was higher as compared to those living in towns (P<0.01). Women and men living in villages reported higher median energy expenditure at home than their counterparts living in towns (P<0.001). Less energy was used in leisure time among women living in a village (P<0.001). A similar tendency (non-significant) was found for men.

Conclusion:

IPAQ is a detailed method to measure physical activity in leisure time, home, work and transportation and provide information on both time and energy expenditure used on physical activity. However the total energy expenditure in Greenland estimated by IPAQ is surprisingly high, in particular for respondents living in villages, indicating some methodological challenges when applying IPAQ in a non-European setting. Validation of IPAQ by an objective measure of physical activity (Actiheart) is to come.