Validity and responsiveness to change of the Active Australia Survey according to gender, age, BMI, education, and physical activity level and awareness.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the validity of the Active Australia Survey across different subgroups and its responsiveness to change, as few previous studies have examined this. METHODS: The Active Australia Survey was validated against the ActiGraph as an objective measure of physical activity. Participants (n = 465) wore the ActiGraph for 7 days and subsequently completed the Active Australia Survey. Moderate activity, vigorous activity and total moderate and vigorous physical activity were compared using Spearman rank-order correlations. Changes in physical activity between baseline and 3-month assessments were correlated to examine responsiveness to change. The data were stratified to assess outcomes according to different subgroups (e.g., gender, age, weight, activity levels). RESULTS: With regards to the validity, a significant correlation of ρ = 0.19 was found for moderate physical activity, ρ = 0.33 for vigorous physical activity and ρ = 0.23 for moderate and vigorous physical activity combined. For vigorous physical activity correlations were higher than 0.3 for most subgroups, whereas they were only higher than 0.3 in those with a healthy weight for the other activity outcomes. With regards to responsiveness to change, a correlation of ρ = 0.32 was found for moderate physical activity, ρ = 0.19 for vigorous physical activity and ρ = 0.35 for moderate and vigorous physical activity combined. For moderate and vigorous activity combined correlations were higher than 0.4 for several subgroups, but never for vigorous physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Little evidence for the validity of Active Australia Survey was found, although the responsiveness to change was acceptable for several subgroups. Findings from studies using the Active Australia Survey should be interpreted with caution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: World Health Organisation Universal Trial Number: U111-1119-1755. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000157976 . Registration date: 8 March 2011.

The prevalence and performance of resistance exercise training activities in an Australian population in relation to health authority guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: Resistance training research highlights the importance of training intensity to resistance exercise training (RET) and the associated benefits to health and function for healthy and at-risk populations. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommend specific intensities, frequencies, repetitions, and number of exercises of RET to be performed to maintain health. The primary aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of achieving recommended levels of RET in relation to ACSM guidelines for intensity, frequency, repetitions, and number of exercises in a regional Australian population. DESIGN: A Computer-Assisted-Telephone-Interview (CATI) survey (n=1237) was conducted to determine RET participation. METHODS: Participants were 18 years plus, residing in Central Queensland, Australia. RESULTS: The prevalence of respondents performing 'No RET', 'insufficient RET' and 'sufficient RET' were 79.6.0%, 15.2% and 5.2% respectively. Significantly higher proportions of younger adults adhered to all RET guidelines for intensity (19.2 vs 8.1%), frequency (19.9 vs 11.6%), repetitions (17.8 vs 6.3%), and number of exercises (8.2 vs 3.6%) (p<0.05). Significantly higher proportions of males, younger adults (18-34 years), higher educated individuals (>15 years), and individuals engaging in sufficient levels of aerobic exercise training (AET) engaged in sufficient levels of RET (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Australian's participating in regular RET programs is low and only a small proportion of participants meet ACSM guidelines for the quantity and quality of RET that is likely to provide health benefits. This has implications for public health policy and the future development and promotion of population-level RET guidelines.