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Accelerometer-measured physical activity in mid-age Australian adults
Gregore Iven Mielke1, Nicola W Burton2,3,4, Wendy J Brown5,6
1School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 4006, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. g.ivenmielke@uq.edu.au.
BMC Public Health
|October 22, 2022
Summary
Raw accelerometer data from Australian adults reveal physical activity patterns. Mid-age individuals spent varying durations in moderate-to-vigorous activity, with about a third engaging in vigorous activity daily.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Epidemiology
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Raw accelerometer data offer detailed insights into physical activity intensity and duration.
- Understanding physical activity in mid-age adults is crucial for public health.
- Triaxial wrist-worn accelerometers provide objective measures of movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe physical activity patterns using raw accelerometer data in mid-age Australian adults.
- To analyze time spent in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) based on different bout criteria.
- To determine the proportion of participants meeting vigorous physical activity recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 700 mid-age adults in Brisbane, Australia.
- Employed triaxial wrist-worn accelerometers (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) to collect raw acceleration data.
- Estimated MVPA durations using non-bouted, 1-, 5-, and 10-minute bout criteria (>100 mg).
Main Results:
- Mean acceleration was 23.2 mg (SD: 7.5) and did not significantly differ by gender or education.
- Mean acceleration decreased by approximately 10% per decade after age 55.
- Median MVPA durations ranged from 68 min/day (non-bouted) to 8 min/day (10-min bouts); ~33% achieved ≥1 min/day of vigorous activity.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a comprehensive description of physical activity in mid-age Australian adults using raw accelerometer data.
- The findings highlight the variability in physical activity patterns and intensity within this demographic.
- Raw accelerometer data can be leveraged to explore associations between physical activity and health outcomes.
