COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE MINNESOTA LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY QUESTIONNAIRE

The accuracy of the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) Qu estionnaire (a 1-year survey of non-occupational activity used in MRFI T) was studied in 78 men and women, age 20-59 years, by comparing surv ey results to the following measures obtained over a year's duration: six 48-hour physical activity records; fourteen 48-hour Caltrac accele rometer readings (Caltrac); 14 administrations of a 4-week version of the LTPA Questionnaire (FWH); 3 V-02peak determinations and percent bo dy fat (% BF). The LTPA Questionnaire demonstrated: weak to moderate a ssociations with % BF (r = -0.24) and with V-02peak (r = 0.47); a weak association with Caltrac readings expressed as Met.minutes.day(-1) (r = 0.23); strong associations with corresponding activities reported o n the FWH; and moderate associations with total and heavy activities r eported in the physical activity record, but no associations with mode rate and light activities. Furthermore, several types of LTPA were fou nd to be either under-represented or not currently included in the Min nesota LTPA Questionaire. It is concluded that although validation res ults were found to be quite good, several possible refinements were id entified, which should improve the accuracy of the Minnesota LTPA Ques tionnaire is assessing habitual physical activity.