title: The Reliability and Concurrent Validity of a Modified Version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (IPAQ-A) in Tunisian Overweight and Obese Youths.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (IPAQ-A) modified for use in Tunisia among overweight and obese adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one voluntary healthy, overweight or obese adolescents (15-18 years old) participated in the study. Physical activity (PA) indicators derived from the modified self-administered IPAQ-A were compared with pedometer-recorded data of step counts. The test-retest reliability of the IPAQ-A was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Kappa tests between the response of participants in the two interviews. Validity was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between the scores of the IPAQ-A and the step count pedometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ICC revealed that the reliability of IPAQ-A values was high and ranged from 0.73 to 0.95. IPAQ-A scores were also significantly related to pedometer step counts (r = 0.66, p < 0.001). Strong relationships were observed between pedometer step count data and the IPAQ-A data for vigorous PA (r = 0.57, p < 0.001) and walking (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). However, a weaker relationship for moderate PA was observed (r = 0.24, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified version of the IPAQ-A questionnaire demonstrated an acceptable reliability and validity when used to assess the levels and patterns of PA in overweight or obese Tunisian adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (UR04SP31), Department of Endocrinology, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sofien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regaieg
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Charfi
authors.forename: Sourour
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaich
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damak
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abid
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014416:Tunisia