Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Associations Between Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome: Comparison Between Self-Report and Accelerometry
Jared M Tucker1, Gregory J Welk1, Nicholas K Beyler1
1Jared M. Tucker, PhD, is with the Healthy Weight Center at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Gregory J. Welk, PhD, and Youngwon Kim, MS, are with the Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Nicholas K. Beyler, PhD, is with the Mathematica Policy Research, Washington, D.C.
Purpose:
To assess the relationship between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in U.S. adults.
Design:
A cross-sectional design was used for this study.
Setting:
The study was set among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.
Subjects:
Adults, ages 20 years and older, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006 (n = 5580) participated in the study.
Measures:
PA measures included minutes per week of moderate plus vigorous PA estimated by self-report (MVPAsr), total 7-day accelerometry (MVPAa), and accelerometer-based MVPA performed in 10-minute bouts (MVPAb). Risk factors for metabolic syndrome included blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and waist circumference.
Analysis:
Odds ratios (ORs) for having metabolic syndrome were calculated for men and women who met the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans compared to those who did not.
Results:
Women who did not meet the PA guidelines had significantly greater odds of having metabolic syndrome according to MVPAsr (OR = 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65-2.94), MVPAa (OR = 4.40; 95% CI = 2.65-7.31), and MVPAb (OR = 2.91; 95% CI = 1.42-5.96). Men had significantly higher odds of having metabolic syndrome according to MVPAa (OR = 2.57; 95% CI = 1.91-3.45) and MVPAb (OR = 2.83; 95% CI = 1.55-5.17), but not MVPAsr. These ORs remained significant after adjusting for all potential confounders except body mass index, after which only MVPAsr in women and MVPAb in men remained significant.
Conclusion:
Individuals who do not meet the PA guidelines exhibited greater odds of having metabolic syndrome. This relationship tended to be stronger for objective PA measures than for self-report.
