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Validation and calibration of an accelerometer in preschool children
Russell R Pate1, Maria J Almeida, Kerry L McIver
1Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 730 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. rpate@gwm.sc.edu
Insights
Validating accelerometers for measuring physical activity in young children is crucial due to rising obesity. This study confirms ActiGraph accelerometers accurately assess activity levels in preschoolers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric exercise science
- Biomedical engineering
- Public health
Background:
- Rising obesity rates in young children are linked to decreased physical activity.
- Accurate measurement of physical activity in preschoolers is essential but challenging.
- Existing methods for assessing physical activity in young children are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To calibrate and validate the ActiGraph accelerometer for measuring physical activity in 3- to 5-year-old children.
- To establish reliable cut-off points for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity using accelerometer data in preschoolers.
Main Methods:
- Thirty preschool children participated in laboratory-based and free-play activities.
- Concurrent measurements of oxygen consumption (Vo2) using a portable metabolic system and accelerometer data were collected.
- Accelerometer data were collected at 15-second intervals.
Main Results:
- Accelerometer counts showed a high correlation with Vo2 (r=0.82) during calibration.
- Cross-validation revealed moderate agreement between measured and predicted Vo2 (intraclass R=0.57, Spearman R=0.66).
- Established cut-off points for moderate (420 counts/15s) and vigorous (842 counts/15s) activity demonstrated acceptable agreement.
Conclusions:
- Accelerometer counts are a valid measure of physical activity in young children.
- The ActiGraph accelerometer can be reliably used to assess physical activity intensity in preschoolers.
- This validation supports the use of accelerometers in epidemiological studies of childhood physical activity and obesity.
Objective:
Obesity rates in young children are increasing, and decreased physical activity is likely to be a major contributor to this trend. Studies of physical activity in young children are limited by the lack of valid and acceptable measures. The purpose of this study was to calibrate and validate the ActiGraph accelerometer for use with 3- to 5-year-old children.
Research Methods And Procedures:
Thirty preschool children wore an ActiGraph accelerometer (ActiGraph, Fort Walton Beach, FL) and a Cosmed portable metabolic system (Cosmed, Rome, Italy) during a period of rest and while performing three structured physical activities in a laboratory setting. Expired respiratory gases were collected, and oxygen consumption was measured on a breath-by-breath basis. Accelerometer data were collected at 15-second intervals. For cross-validation, the same children wore the same instruments while participating in unstructured indoor and outdoor activities for 20 minutes each at their preschool.
Results:
In calibrating the accelerometer, the correlation between Vo(2) (ml/kg per min) and counts was r = 0.82 across all activities. The only significant variable in the prediction equation was accelerometer counts (R(2) = 0.90, standard error of the estimate = 4.70). In the cross-validation, the intraclass correlation coefficient between measured and predicted Vo(2) was R = 0.57 and the Spearman correlation coefficient was R = 0.66 (p < 0.001). Cut-off points for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity were identified at 420 counts/15 s (Vo(2) = 20 mL/kg per min) and 842 counts/15 s (Vo(2) = 30 mL/kg per min), respectively. When these cutpoints were applied to the cross-validation data, percentage agreement, kappa, and modified kappa for moderate activity were 0.69, 0.36, and 0.38, respectively. For vigorous activity, the same measures were 0.81, 0.13, and 0.62.
Discussion:
Accelerometer counts were highly correlated with Vo(2) in young children. Accelerometers can be appropriately used as a measure of physical activity in this population.
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