Comparison of two assessments of physical activity and a survey method for calorie intake

Abstract

A comparison was made of the assessment of habitual physical activity by questionnaire and interview procedures, and the daily caloric intake by dietary survey. A total of 198 men aged 40 to 59 years was separated into the following three groups: exercise, sedentary or status quo, and volitionally active. These men engaged in a wide variety of physical activities but in none very intensively. Despite different occupational labels, few of the men were very active on their job. Thus, in this rather homogeneous university sample (exercise plus status quo), it would have been difficult to classify the men according to level of physical activity, for most of the men were not truly sedentary but fell into a light to moderate activity category. The volitionally active men exercised most during their leisure time. Simple interview questions designed to determine peak activity whether on the job or during leisure may well prove as useful for classifying men as the more elaborate methods employed. A scheme for determining the relative activity level yielded values unrelated to those for average daily caloric intake determined from 7-day dietary records.