Physical activity assessment using a pedometer and its comparison with a questionnaire in a large population survey

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Assessing physical activity is crucial for epidemiologic research.
• Traditional methods like questionnaires have limitations in accuracy and detail.
• Pedometers offer a potential objective measure for large-scale studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of pedometers in epidemiologic research on physical activity.
• To compare pedometer-measured steps with questionnaire data in a population sample.
• To analyze physical activity patterns across different demographics and activities.

Main Methods:

• A representative sample of 493 Swiss adults (25-74 years) participated in a health examination survey.
• Participants wore pedometers for one week to record daily steps during work and leisure.
• Pedometer data was compared with self-reported physical activity via questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Average daily steps decreased significantly with age in both men and women.
• Men's steps correlated strongly with occupational physical activity (p < 0.001), while women's correlated with leisure activity (p = 0.003).
• Regular sports participation (> once/week) significantly increased daily steps for both sexes.

Conclusions:

• Pedometers are a valuable tool for assessing physical activity in large, free-living populations.
• Physical activity levels decline with age, influenced by occupation and leisure pursuits.
• Unexpected findings suggest complex interactions between occupational and leisure-time physical activity.