Research
Cameroon Study
The Cameroon Study is looking at the development of practical methods for measuring physical activity in population studies in sub-Sahara Africa. The Unit has been responsible for developing and refining several techniques for measuring physical activity using specialist equipment and facilities. However, not all clinical study facilities have access to this equipment and alternative, "low-tech" methods will be useful for these units.
The overall aims of this study are to:
- validate objective methods for measuring physical activity in population-based studies in sub-Sahara Africa
- describe the physical activity level and its determinants in an adult Cameroonian population and to explore the associations between physical activity and some cardiovascular/metabolic risk factors.
To achieve these aims, our specific objectives are to:
- assess the combined heart rate monitoring and motion sensing equipment (Actiheart) for estimating energy expenditure in Cameroon
- compare the validity of Actiheart and Actigraph™ in estimating energy expenditure in free-living adult Cameroonians
- measure physical activity energy expenditure in an urban and a rural population in Cameroon using the Actiheart and examine possible determinants of physical activity levels
- compare physical activity energy expenditure measured by the Actiheart device with that estimated from self-reporting of physical activity using various questionnaires.
