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Large Scale Population Assessment of Physical Activity Using Wrist Worn Accelerometers: The UK Biobank Study
Aiden Doherty1,2, Dan Jackson3, Nils Hammerla3
1Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Population Health, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|February 2, 2017
Summary
Objective physical activity declines with age, with significant differences observed throughout the day. This large-scale study demonstrates the feasibility of using accelerometers to measure activity in over 100,000 individuals.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Objective physical activity measurement in large prospective cohorts is limited.
- Technological advancements enable large-scale accelerometer data collection.
- UK Biobank study utilizes accelerometry for health outcome research.
Purpose of the Study:
- Describe methods for collecting and analyzing accelerometer data in UK Biobank.
- Report physical activity variations by age, sex, time, and season.
- Establish a foundation for future physical activity and health research.
Main Methods:
- 103,712 UK Biobank participants wore wrist-worn accelerometers for 7 days.
- Raw acceleration data processed to extract physical activity metrics.
- Analysis of wear-time compliance and physical activity patterns.
Main Results:
- 96,600 participants provided valid data; vector magnitude decreased with age.
- Significant daily variations in physical activity by time of day were observed.
- Minor differences in activity levels between weekdays/weekends and seasons.
Conclusions:
- Objective physical activity data collection is feasible in large cohorts.
- Older individuals exhibit lower physical activity, particularly in afternoons/evenings.
- UK Biobank data provides valuable exposure variables for health research.
