Translation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in Various Indian Languages: A Narrative...

One of the numerous issues India faces as a developing country is the shift in public health and nutrition. The nation's health is at risk due to physical inactivity, which is a separate risk factor for obesity and several other chronic illnesses. Physical activity (PA) is one of the most important habitual behaviors that support a healthy life by preventing illnesses and increasing health benefits. Maintaining and improving health requires regular PA. Numerous methods are available for measuring PA. To collect PA estimates that may be compared between different populations or across national borders, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was developed and is utilized worldwide. The use of the IPAQ, which is translated into Indian languages, is the main topic of this review. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar were used to conduct a thorough literature search in March 2026 by two independent researchers. This review focused on research on the translation of the IPAQ into Indian languages. The keywords used for the search strategy were combined using the Boolean terms "Physical activity" OR "Physical inactivity" AND "Measurement" OR "Assessment" AND "Indian Language" AND "Reliability" AND "IPAQ" AND "Translation." The initial search identified 13 studies based on the title and abstract. After removing the five duplicate studies and three studies with abstract only, five studies meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Although electronic instruments would be more reliable, they are not suitable for epidemiological studies due to India's large population and economic constraints. For the purpose of evaluating PA, translation of the IPAQ into different local Indian languages is the need of the time.