Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
The relationship between pedometer-determined and self-reported physical activity and body composition variables in
Michael L Mestek1, Eric Plaisance, Peter Grandjean
1Department of Health and Human Performance, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. michael.mestek@colorado.edu
Unlabelled:
Pedometer-determined physical activity (PA) is inversely related to body composition in middle-aged adults; however, researchers have not established such a relationship in college students.
Objective And Participants:
In this study, the authors attempted to characterize PA and examine its relationship with body composition in undergraduate college students (N = 88).
Methods:
The authors measured the BC of 44 women (M age = 21 +/- 1 year, M body mass index [BMI] = 23.9 +/- 4 kg/m2) and 44 men (M age = 22 +/- 1 year, BMI = 26.9 +/- 0.9 kg/m2); participants also wore a pedometer for 7 days and completed a PA questionnaire.
Results:
Men averaged significantly more steps/day (10,027 +/- 3,535) than did women (8,610 +/- 2,252). For women only, the authors observed significant correlations between steps/day and body composition variables. Men reported engaging in vigorous PA significantly more often than did women.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that men engage in PA more often but that PA is related to body composition only in women. In addition, there is better agreement between pedometer-measured and self-reported PA in college-aged men than women.
