title: Socio-demographic and behavioural correlates of physical activity perception in individuals with recently diagnosed diabetes: results from a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity (PA) levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are generally low. Poor PA perception may impede healthy behaviour change in this high risk group. We describe (i) objective PA levels, (ii) the difference between objective and self-reported PA ('PA disparity') and the correlates of (iii) PA disparity and (iv) overestimation in recently diagnosed T2DM patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of 425 recently diagnosed T2DM patients aged 42 to 71, participating in the ADDITION-Plus study in Eastern England, UK. We define 'PA disparity' as the non-negative value of the difference (in mathematical terms the absolute difference) between objective and self-reported physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE in kJ · kg-1 · day-1). 'Overestimators' comprised those whose self-reported- exceeded objective-PAEE by 4.91 kJ · kg-1 · day-1(the equivalent of 30 minutes moderate activity per day). Multivariable linear regression examined the association between PA disparity (continuous) and socio-demographic, clinical, health behaviour, quality of life and psychological characteristics. Logistic regression examined the association between PA overestimation and individual characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean objective and self-reported PAEE levels ± SD were 34.4 ± 17.0 and 22.6 ± 19.4 kJ · kg-1·day-1, respectively (difference in means =11.8; 95% CI=9.7 to 13.9 kJ · kg-1 · day-1). Higher PA disparity was associated with male sex, younger age, lower socio-economic status and lower BMI. PA overestimators comprised 19% (n=80), with those in routine/manual occupations more likely to be overestimators than those in managerial/professional occupations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T2DM patients with poor physical activity perception are more likely to be male, younger, from a lower socio-economic class and to have a lower BMI. PA overestimators were more likely to be in lower socio-economic categories. Self-monitoring and targeted feedback, particularly to those in lower socio-economic categories, may improve PA perceptions and optimise interventions in T2DM patients. Our findings suggest that strategies for enabling realistic assessment of physical activity levels, through self-monitoring or feedback, warrant further investigation and may help refine and improve physical activity interventions.
authors.forename: Gráinne H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brage
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wareham
authors.forename: Esther M F
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Sluijs
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, UK. Rebecca.Simmons@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004739:England; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors