A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions
Abstract Background Current understanding of population physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviour in developing countries is limited, and based primarily on self-report. We described PA levels using objective and self-report methods in a developing country population. Methods PA was asse...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2016-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3689-2 |
| _version_ | 1819211165370155008 |
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| author | Christina Howitt Soren Brage Ian R. Hambleton Kate Westgate T. Alafia Samuels Angela MC Rose Nigel Unwin |
| author_facet | Christina Howitt Soren Brage Ian R. Hambleton Kate Westgate T. Alafia Samuels Angela MC Rose Nigel Unwin |
| author_sort | Christina Howitt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Current understanding of population physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviour in developing countries is limited, and based primarily on self-report. We described PA levels using objective and self-report methods in a developing country population. Methods PA was assessed in a cross-sectional, representative sample of the population of Barbados (25–54 years), using a validated questionnaire (RPAQ) and individually calibrated combined heart rate and movement sensing monitors. The RPAQ collects information on recalled activity in 4 domains: home, work, transport, and leisure. Physical inactivity was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines; sedentary lifestyle was defined as being sedentary for 8 h or more daily; PA overestimation was defined as perceiving activity to be sufficient, when classified as ‘inactive’ by objective measurement. Results According to objective estimates, 90.5 % (95 % CI: 83.3,94.7) of women and 58.9 % (48.4,68.7) of men did not accumulate sufficient activity to meet WHO minimum recommendations. Overall, 50.7 % (43.3,58.1) of the population was sedentary for 8 h or more each day, and 60.1 % (52.8,66.9) overestimated their activity levels. The prevalence of inactivity was underestimated by self-report in both genders by 28 percentage points (95 % CI: 18,38), but the accuracy of reporting differed by age group, education level, occupational grade, and overweight/obesity status. Low PA was greater in more socially privileged groups: higher educational level and higher occupational grade were both associated with less objectively measured PA and more sedentary time. Variation in domain-specific self-reported physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) by educational attainment was observed: higher education level was associated with more leisure activity and less occupational activity. Occupational PA was the main driver of PAEE for women and men according to self-report, contributing 57 % (95 % CI: 52,61). The most popular leisure activities for both genders were walking and gardening. Conclusions The use of both objective and self-report methods to assess PA and sedentary behaviour provides important complementary information to guide public health programmes. Our results emphasize the urgent need to increase PA and reduce sedentary time in this developing country population. Women and those with higher social economic position are particularly at risk from low levels of physical activity. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b459ccaf4bc641b19591c09942c46a0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:22:44Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b459ccaf4bc641b19591c09942c46a0f2022-12-21T17:57:10ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582016-10-0116111210.1186/s12889-016-3689-2A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventionsChristina Howitt0Soren Brage1Ian R. Hambleton2Kate Westgate3T. Alafia Samuels4Angela MC Rose5Nigel Unwin6Chronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West IndiesMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of CambridgeChronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West IndiesMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of CambridgeChronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West IndiesChronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West IndiesChronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West IndiesAbstract Background Current understanding of population physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behaviour in developing countries is limited, and based primarily on self-report. We described PA levels using objective and self-report methods in a developing country population. Methods PA was assessed in a cross-sectional, representative sample of the population of Barbados (25–54 years), using a validated questionnaire (RPAQ) and individually calibrated combined heart rate and movement sensing monitors. The RPAQ collects information on recalled activity in 4 domains: home, work, transport, and leisure. Physical inactivity was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines; sedentary lifestyle was defined as being sedentary for 8 h or more daily; PA overestimation was defined as perceiving activity to be sufficient, when classified as ‘inactive’ by objective measurement. Results According to objective estimates, 90.5 % (95 % CI: 83.3,94.7) of women and 58.9 % (48.4,68.7) of men did not accumulate sufficient activity to meet WHO minimum recommendations. Overall, 50.7 % (43.3,58.1) of the population was sedentary for 8 h or more each day, and 60.1 % (52.8,66.9) overestimated their activity levels. The prevalence of inactivity was underestimated by self-report in both genders by 28 percentage points (95 % CI: 18,38), but the accuracy of reporting differed by age group, education level, occupational grade, and overweight/obesity status. Low PA was greater in more socially privileged groups: higher educational level and higher occupational grade were both associated with less objectively measured PA and more sedentary time. Variation in domain-specific self-reported physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) by educational attainment was observed: higher education level was associated with more leisure activity and less occupational activity. Occupational PA was the main driver of PAEE for women and men according to self-report, contributing 57 % (95 % CI: 52,61). The most popular leisure activities for both genders were walking and gardening. Conclusions The use of both objective and self-report methods to assess PA and sedentary behaviour provides important complementary information to guide public health programmes. Our results emphasize the urgent need to increase PA and reduce sedentary time in this developing country population. Women and those with higher social economic position are particularly at risk from low levels of physical activity.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3689-2Physical activitySedentary behaviourPhysical activity questionnaireCombined sensingBarbados |
| spellingShingle | Christina Howitt Soren Brage Ian R. Hambleton Kate Westgate T. Alafia Samuels Angela MC Rose Nigel Unwin A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions BMC Public Health Physical activity Sedentary behaviour Physical activity questionnaire Combined sensing Barbados |
| title | A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions |
| title_full | A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions |
| title_short | A cross-sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a Caribbean population: combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions |
| title_sort | cross sectional study of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in a caribbean population combining objective and questionnaire data to guide future interventions |
| topic | Physical activity Sedentary behaviour Physical activity questionnaire Combined sensing Barbados |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-3689-2 |
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