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Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption
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Accelerometer derived physical activity patterns in 27.890 middle-aged adults: The SCAPIS cohort study
Elin Ekblom-Bak1, Mats Börjesson2,3, Frida Bergman4
1Department of Physical Activity and Health, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|January 26, 2022
Summary
Middle-aged adults spend most of their time sedentary, with little vigorous physical activity (PA). Variations exist across subgroups, highlighting the need for comprehensive PA assessment in health research and practice.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) is crucial for health, yet patterns and adherence to recommendations in middle-aged populations are not fully understood.
- Accelerometers provide objective measures of PA, enabling detailed analysis of sedentary behavior and different intensity levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe accelerometer-assessed PA patterns in a large sample of middle-aged adults.
- To evaluate the fulfillment of PA recommendations within this population.
- To examine differences in PA patterns across socio-demographic, socio-economic, and lifestyle subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized hip-worn accelerometer data (Actigraph) from 27,890 participants (aged 50-64 years) in the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS).
- Analyzed daily wear time distribution across sedentary, low, moderate, and vigorous PA intensities.
- Investigated associations between PA patterns and various subgroup variables.
Main Results:
- Majority of daily wear time was sedentary (54.5%), with minimal time in vigorous PA (0.1%).
- Factors like male sex, higher education, and active commuting were linked to higher sedentary time but also more vigorous PA.
- High BMI and chronic diseases strongly correlated with increased sedentary time and reduced time in all PA intensities.
- Adherence to PA recommendations varied widely (1.4%–92.2%) based on definitions; 28% exhibited 'at-risk' behavior (high sedentary, low vigorous PA).
Conclusions:
- Middle-aged adults predominantly engage in sedentary behavior, with limited vigorous physical activity.
- Significant variations in PA patterns exist across different population subgroups.
- Comprehensive assessment of individual PA patterns is essential for future research and clinical practice.
