Diet and Physical Activity Toolkit background information

Welcome to the Diet and Physical Activity Measurement Toolkit. The toolkit is divided into a number of sections. In the next section, basic concepts that are common to both fields are outlined. The common methods for the measurement of diet and physical activity are reviewed in separate sections along with a commentary on the indications for their use, and practical application of the methods. Examples of actual tools, links to relevant websites and related references are given for many of the methods. Other related topics are covered in the dietary and physical activity assessment sections.

The choice of method to measure diet and physical activity is of fundamental importance and must be suitable to measure the aspect of diet or physical activity relevant to the research question. Interactive decision matrixes are provided to guide researchers in this process in tandem with practical considerations that may dictate the ultimate choice of method. The perfect measure of diet or physical activity does not exist and the choice of method is often a trade-off between the sophistication and therefore quality of the method and the resources available.

The final section of the website is an interactive forum for researchers to share their experiences of using particular methods or ask advice from fellow users. Feedback on this site and suggestions for additional content can be made on the forum.