Psychometric properties of the Urdu Translation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-Long Form) in Pre-Diabetic

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a major determinant of health, reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improving quality of life. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is a widely used tool for assessing PA globally. Despite Urdu being Pakistan’s national language, no validated Urdu version of the IPAQ-Long Form exists for the 11.4 million pre-diabetic adults in the country. Objective: To translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate the IPAQ-Long Form in Urdu for pre-diabetic adults. Methods: A cross-sectional validation study was conducted from January to March 2025 in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Forty-eight Urdu-speaking adults aged 20–65 years, with pre-diabetes (American Diabetes Association criteria) and BMI ≥23 kg/m², were recruited through convenience sampling. Translation followed WHO’s six-step cross-cultural adaptation protocol. Reliability was evaluated via test–retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s α. Validity was assessed using Spearman’s ρ correlation between PA (MET-min/week) and body mass index (BMI). Results: The Urdu IPAQ-Long Form demonstrated excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.883, 95% CI: 0.800–0.932, p < 0.001) and strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.939). Significant inverse correlations were observed between PA and BMI (ρ = −0.707, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Urdu IPAQ-Long Form is a reliable and valid tool for measuring PA in Urdu-speaking pre-diabetic adults and is recommended for clinical and public health applications.