Skip to main content
Log in

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

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armstrong T, Bonita R (2003) Capacity building for an integrated noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance system in developing countries. Ethn Dis 13(Suppl 2):S13–S18

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong T, Bauman A, Davies J (2000) Physical activity patterns of Australian adults. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauman A (2004) Updating the evidence that physical activity is good for health: an epidemiological review 2000–2003. J Sci Med Sport 7(Suppl 1):6–19

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bull F, Armstrong T, Dixon T, Ham S, Neiman A, Pratt M (2004) Physical inactivity. In: Ezzati M, Lopez A, Rodgers A, Murray C (eds) Comparative quantification of health risks: global and regional burden of disease attributable to selected major risk factors. World Health Organization, Geneva, pp 729–881

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig C, Marshall A, Sjostrom M, Bauman A, Booth M, Ainsworth B, Pratt M, Ekelund U, Yngve A, Sallis J, Oja P (2003) International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35:1381–1395

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Courten M (2002) Developing a simple global physical activity questionnaire for population studies. Australasian Epidemiologist 9:6–9

    Google Scholar 

  • IPAQ (2002) International Physical Activity Questionnaire http://www.ipaq.ki.se

  • Jakes R, Wareham N (2003) Epidemiology of activity and physical health. In: McKenna J, Riddoch C (eds) Perspectives on health and exercise. Palgrave Macmillen, Hampshire New York, pp 31–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Shephard R (2003) Limits to the measurement of habitual physical activity by questionnaires. Br J Sports Med 37:197–206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena S, van Ommeren M, Tang K, Armstrong T (2005) Mental health benefits of physical activity. Journal of Mental Health 14:445–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2005a) Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2005b) WHO STEPS Surveillance Manual: The WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timothy Armstrong.

Additional information

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

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-006-0024-x

Keywords

Navigation