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National youth sedentary behavior and physical activity daily patterns using latent class analysis applied to
Kelly R Evenson1, Fang Wen2, Derek Hales3
1Department of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 306, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA. kelly_evenson@unc.edu.
Summary
Latent class analysis identified distinct patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in US youth. These findings help in understanding youth activity levels and targeting interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Accelerometry is a valuable tool for understanding physical activity patterns.
- Latent Class Analysis (LCA) can identify distinct behavioral subgroups within a population.
- Understanding youth physical activity is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe patterns of accelerometer-determined sedentary behavior and physical activity in a US youth sample.
- To apply LCA to identify distinct latent classes of physical activity and sedentary behavior.
- To explore how these patterns vary by age, gender, and school attendance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 3998 US youths (6-17 years) from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
- Accelerometers (ActiGraph 7164) were worn for at least 3 days, 8 hours/day.
- LCA classified daily patterns of sedentary behavior, light activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and vigorous activity, accounting for wear time and using weighted estimates.
Main Results:
- Four distinct classes emerged for average intensity, sedentary behavior, light activity, and MVPA.
- Three distinct classes emerged for vigorous activity.
- Activity patterns showed variations when stratified by age, gender, and school attendance.
Conclusions:
- LCA successfully identified distinct patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in US youth.
- These identified patterns provide a foundation for future research on correlates and outcomes.
- The findings can inform targeted interventions for youth sedentary behavior and physical activity.
