2011, Volume 3, Issue 1

Evaluation of Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) among Healthy and Obese Health Professionals in Central India

Abhinav Singh¹, Bharathi Purohit<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Public Health Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre


Author for correspondence: Abhinav Singh; Department of Public Health Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre; email: drabhinav.singh[at]gmail.com

Full text

Abstract

Background: To assess physical activity using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) among healthy, overweight and obese Indian health professionals.
Materials and methods: The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to assess physical activity among 324 dental health care professionals (third-year students, final-year students, interns, and faculty). Metabolic Equivalents (MET) were used to express the intensity of physical activities, and are also used for the analysis of GPAQ data. The analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean physical activity scores among dental health care professionals. The Chi Square test was used to compare categorical risk indicators and obesity (BMI). Kendall’s test was used to compute the correlation between physical activity categorical indicator (CI), obesity and sedentary behaviour. The logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the importance of the factors associated with obesity. Odds ratio was calculated for all variables with 95% confidence intervals.
Results: Total physical activity measured in mean MET minutes per week was 625.6, 786.3, 296.5, and 296.5 for third-year students, final-year students, interns, and faculty respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Total energy expenditure of 0 MET minutes per week was calculated as 32.2%, 10.3%, 17.9% and 44.9% of third-year students, final-year students, interns, and faculty, respectively. Of the 211 health care professionals in high risk group 28.9% were in the third year, 19.9% in the final year, 20.4% were interns and 30.8% were faculty members. Obesity was calculated in 22.4% third-year students, 16.3% final-year students, 20.4% interns and 40.8% of faculty members. Overweight problems were seen in 19.7%, 24.7%, 24.7% and 30.8% of third-year students, final-year students, interns, and faculty members respectively (p ≤ 0.001).
Conclusions: A significant correlation was seen between physical activity categorical indicator and BMI. A significant negative correlation was noted between physical activity categorical indicator and sedentary behaviour. A significant correlation was also noted between BMI and sedentary behavior. Physical activity is a positive health behavior with so much potential to improve public health and so few risks that it deserves to be central to any future public health strategy.

Key words: obesity, sedentary lifestyle, dental professionals, physical activity