Table 3.
Description of the national and international surveys used to generate the GoPA prevalence estimates (n=44 countries).
| Region / Country | Survey name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| European region | ||
| Austria | Eurobarometer 80.2, 2013 | Eurobarometer 80.2 collected data on days and time per week of vigorous and moderate intensity activity and walking. |
| Croatia | Eurobarometer 80.2, 2013 | Eurobarometer 80.2 collected data on days and time per week of vigorous and moderate intensity activity and walking. |
| England | Health Survey for England, 2012 | Respondents were asked about their participation in different sport and exercise activities and for each activity they were asked about their level of muscular activity/ fatigue. A coding system was applied to each activity to categorise it as aerobic, muscle strengthening, and/or contributing to balance. For activities which may or may not be muscle strengthening or balance-related, the response to the qualifying question(s) about muscle fatigue/activity specifics were used to determine inclusion. In addition, respondents were asked about the frequency and duration of non-sport and exercise activities that are typically considered to build strength including climbing stairs or ladders, carrying or lifting, heavy housework, gardening, DIY or building, although responses to these non-sport and exercise questions were not included in the prevalence calculation. |
| Germany | Eurobarometer, 2005 | Eurobarometer 64.3 collected data on days and time per week of vigorous and moderate intensity activity and walking. |
| Greece | Eurobarometer 80.2, 2013 | Eurobarometer 80.2 collected data on days and time per week of vigorous and moderate intensity activity and walking. |
| Greenland | Local Survey, 2005-2009 | The Greenland national prevalence survey included questions from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; long version) which collects data on days and time in the past 7 days undertaking moderate and vigorous activities across a range of domains including work, transport, at home, and in sport and leisure. |
| Iceland* | National Database, 2004 | |
| Israel | Israeli Ministry of Health, 2011-2012 | Participants were asked about their typical frequency and duration of vigorous and moderate intensity physical activity. Participants were then asked to report the time they devoted to specific activities (walking outdoors or on a treadmill; jogging; swimming; bike riding or stationary cycling; light exercise such as yoga, Feldenkrais, Alexander’s method, light gymnastics; body shaping and strength training in a fitness room; any other activity). |
| Lithuania* | Health Behaviour among Lithuanian Adult Population Survey (year unknown) | |
| Macedonia | Local Survey, 2012-2013 | The Macedonian cross-sectional population based study included questions from the Godin and Shepherd Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, which assesses strenuous, moderate and light activity during leisure time in the past 7 days. |
| Netherlands | Health Interview Survey, 2013 | This survey used the Short Questionnaire to assess health enhancing physical activity (SQUASH). This tool assesses days and time, as well as effort expended in commuting, leisure time activities, household activities, and activities undertaken at work or school. It does not explicitly ask about participation in muscle strengthening and balance and coordination activities, but it does generate a long list of activities, to which strength and balance codes could be assigned. |
| Northern Ireland | The Health Survey for Northern Ireland, 2013-2014 | The 2013/14 Health Survey for Northern Ireland collected data in the same way as the 2012 Health Survey for England described above. |
| Norway | Dyrstad et al (2014) Med Sci Sports Exerc, 46: 99-106 | These data are from the IPAQ Short form, which assesses days and time undertaking vigorous and moderate activity and walking in the past 7 days. |
| Scotland | Scottish Health Survey, 2013 | The Scottish Health Survey, 2013 collected data in the same way as the 2012 Health Survey for England described above, with two exceptions: 1) the list of prompted sport and exercise activities was longer (40 versus 10) and 2) detailed questions on specific activities at work (climbing stairs, lifting) were not included. |
| Turkey | Turkey Chronic Diseases Prevalence and Risk Factor Study, 2012 | This survey assessed days and time in the past week undertaking moderate and vigorous activity in leisure time and at work, whether people walk to work (yes/no and for less than or more than 30 minutes), and the number of flights of stairs climbed. |
| Wales | Wales Health Survey, 2013 | This survey assessed the days (Monday - Sunday) on which respondents achieved at least 30 minutes of light, moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity during the past 7 days. |
| Eastern Mediterranean Region | ||
| Bahrain | Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors Survey, 2007 | Assessed low, moderate and vigorous intensity activity at work, for travel, and during leisure time. |
| Jordan | Stepwise Survey, 2007 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Lebanon | Sibai et al (2013) BMC Public Health, 13:1002 | These data are from the IPAQ Short form, which assesses days and time undertaking vigorous and moderate activity and walking in the past 7 days. |
| Qatar | Stepwise Survey, 2012 | These data are from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), which assesses days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Region of the Americas | ||
| Aruba | Steps, 2006 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Barbados | The Barbados Health of the Nation Survey, 2015 | Data were collected using the recent Physical Activity Questionnaire (RPAQ), which assesses activity in the past 4 weeks across 4 domains: at home, during transport, at work, and in leisure time. The RPAQ does not explicitly ask about participation in muscle strengthening and balance and coordination activities, but it does ask about the types of activities undertaken including swimming, walking, running, cycling, aerobics, gardening, racquet sports, water sports, and team sports, to which strength and balance codes could be assigned. |
| Bermuda | Steps, 2014 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Canada | Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, Physical Activity Level of Canadians, 2014 | This survey assessed the type of physical activities undertaken during the 12 months prior to the survey. It does not explicitly ask about participation in muscle strengthening and balance and coordination activities, but it does generate a long list of activities, to which strength and balance codes could be assigned. |
| Cayman Islands | Steps, 2012 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Chile | National Health Survey, 2009-2010 | These data are from the GPAQ, which assesses days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Colombia | ENSIN National Survey, 2010 | The Colombian national survey included questions from the IPAQ (long version) which collects data on days and time in the past 7 days undertaking moderate and vigorous activities across a range of domains including work, transport, at home, and in sport and leisure. |
| Cuba | National Survey, 2014 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Dominica | Steps, 2008 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Grenada | Steps, 2010-2011 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Paraguay | First Survey of Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Chronic Disease in the General Population, 2012 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Puerto Rico | Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2013 | This survey asks about non-work related activity in the past month. The survey captures the two most frequently undertaken activity types, the frequency of participation and the usual duration of bouts. In addition, the survey includes a question on activities that strengthen muscles. |
| St Kitts and Nevis | Steps, 2008 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| St Lucia | Steps, 2012 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Steps, 2013-2014 | Assessed days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Uruguay | Second National Survey on Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Disease, 2013 | These data are from the GPAQ, which assesses days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Venezuela | Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Survey, 2006 | These data are from the IPAQ Short form, which assesses days and time undertaking vigorous and moderate activity and walking in the past 7 days. |
| South-East Asia Region | ||
| Thailand | Thailand Physical Activity Surveillance System, 2014 | This survey used the Thai version of the GPAQ (GPAQ2). The GPAQ2 assesses days and time in a typical week participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity at work, for travel and for recreation. |
| Western Pacific Region | ||
| Australia | Australian Health Survey, 2011-2012 | The Australian Health Survey collected data on walking for transport, walking for fitness, and moderate and vigorous physical activity for fitness, recreation or sport undertaken in the week prior to interview. |
| Brunei* | NHANES, 2009-2011 | |
| Guam | Local Survey, 2013 | These data come from the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance Survey 2013 survey, which was also undertaken in Puerto Rico. This survey asks about non-work related activity in the past month. The survey captures the two most frequently undertaken activity types, the frequency of participation and the usual duration of bouts. In addition, the survey includes a question on activities that strengthen muscles. |
| Hong Kong | Physical Activity Surveillance System, 2012 | Assessed days and time undertaking vigorous and moderate activities for at least 10 minutes in the past 7 days. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Health Survey, 2012-2013 | Assessed days and typical time spent walking at a brisk pace, and undertaking moderate and vigorous activity in the past 7 days. |
| Singapore* | National Health Survey, 2010 | |