The IPAQ-SF (the international physical activity questionnaire - short form)

The previously translated Norwegian version of The IPAQ-SF (available at www.ipaq.ki.se) was used to assess self-reported PA [22]. The IPAQ-SF addresses the number of days and time spent on PA in moderate intensity, vigorous intensity and walking of at least 10-min duration the last 7 days, and also includes time spent sitting on weekdays the last 7 days [22]. The IPAQ-SF sum score is expressed in PA Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes per day or week. In the present study, data processing and analysis were calculated according to the official IPAQ scoring protocol (www.ipaq.ki.se). Total weekly PA MET-minutes were estimated by adding up the calculated MET-minutes within each PA intensity level (moderate intensity = 4.0 MET, vigorous intensity = 8.0 MET and walking = 3.3 MET). The reported time spent on sitting was calculated as time per weekday. In addition, reported time on moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were summed and expressed as MVPA-minutes per week and as MVPA MET-minutes per week. Finally, to categorize patients fulfilling or not fulfilling the PA recommendations, MVPA-minutes (≥150 or < 150 MVPA-minutes per week) and vigorous intensity PA (≥75 or < 75 min per week) were dichotomized [1].