The aims of this study were three-fold; 1) to validate feasible methods for measuring physical activity in population-based studies in Africa, 2) to describe the physical activity levels and its determinants in an urban and a rural Cameroonian population, and 3) to examine associations between physical activity and metabolic disease markers.
The initial data collection phase of the project was carried out over a period of 14 months from October 2005 to December 2006. This period was divided into four stages: training (of local field staff in research methods); pilot-testing; validation study of PAEE measurement; and the main study of physical activity and its determinants (~1000 individuals from an urban and rural location in 2 of the 4 geographical regions of Cameroon). A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted between 2012 and 2014 where another ~1000 Cameroonians in the same regions were assessed and detailed information on the determinants of physical activity was collected.
For information about the Cameroon Study, please contact: Dr Soren Brage, soren.brage@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Status
Completed.
Unit role
Phase 1: unit led study with responsibility for data. Phase 2: collaboration on physical activity measurement.
Funding
MRC Core funding plus Unit-held Wellcome Trust studentship (Felix Assah). On-going preservation and use of data supported by MRC core. Phase 2 field work funded by Intermediate Wellcome Trust Fellowship (Felix Assah).
Data sharing
Please see our Data Sharing pages.
Publications
Selected publications
Assah F, Ekelund U, Brage S, Mbanya JC, Wareham N. Free-living physical activity energy expenditure is strongly related to glucose intolerance in Cameroonian adults independently of obesity. Diab Care (2009)
Assah F, Ekelund U, Brage S, Corder K, Wright A, Mbanya JC, Wareham N. Predicting physical activity energy expenditure using accelerometry in adults from sub-Sahara Africa. Obesity (2009)
Assah F, Ekelund U, Brage S, Wright A, Mbanya JC, Wareham NJ. Accuracy and validity of a combined heart rate and motion sensor for the measurement of free-living physical activity energy expenditure in adults in Cameroon. Int J Epid (2011)
Assah F, Ekelund U, Brage S, Mbanya JC, Wareham NJ. Urbanization, physical activity, and metabolic health in sub-Saharan Africa. Diab Care (2011)
Assah F, Mbanya JC, Ekelund U, Wareham NJ, Brage S. Patterns and correlates of objectively measured free-living physical activity in adults in rural and urban Cameroon. J Epidemiol Community Health (2015)
