Reliability and validity of the global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) and its utility: a review of the literature

Objective: To analyze the literature on the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire in regards to its reliability, validity, and utility. Methods: A review of the literature was performed in June 2016 using the following databases: PubMed and EBSCOhost Research Databases. Articles that analyzed the reliability and validity of the GPAQ internally, in comparison to other questionnaires, or in a country context were included. The following data were coded for each article: number of participants, mean age, validity measure(s), validity, and reliability. Frequency counts and mean values of reliability and validity were calculated. Results: Specific populations yielded different results in terms of the reliability and validity of the GPAQ. Overall, the GPAQ has been found to have similar, if not better, reliability and validity than other questionnaires that aim to measure physical activity, such as the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Madras Diabetes Research Foundation- Physical Activity Questionnaire (MPAQ), Total Energy Expenditure Questionnaire (TEEQ), etc. Conclusions: The reliability and validity of the GPAQ are fairly acceptable in different populations. However, the GPAQ’s utility can be increased if its cultural relativity is improved throughout the world.