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The Effect of Using Anchored Wake Time to Derive 24-h Device Measured Circadian Physical Behavior Patterns
Malcolm H Granat1, Matthew N Ahmadi2,3, Emmanuel Stamatakis2,3
1School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, UK.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|June 27, 2024
Summary
Physical activity peaks shortly after waking, especially when measured against wake-up time rather than clock time. This finding is crucial for tailoring effective behavior change interventions.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Behavioral Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Understanding circadian physical behavior patterns is limited.
- Tailoring physical activity interventions to individual chronotypes and time preferences can enhance behavior change.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize and compare 24-hour physical behavior patterns.
- Analyze patterns relative to clock time versus individual wake-up time.
- Investigate patterns in a large British cohort aged 46.
Main Methods:
- Utilized activPAL accelerometer data from 4979 participants (1970 British Cohort Study).
- Analyzed average steps and upright time per 30-min interval for weekdays and weekends.
- Synchronized data to individual wake-up times and compared with clock time.
Main Results:
- Weekday steps averaged 9588; weekend steps averaged 9354.
- Weekday upright time averaged 6.6 hours; weekend upright time averaged 6.4 hours.
- Steps peaked 1-2.5 hours post-waking; upright time peaked immediately post-waking when synchronized to wake-up time.
Conclusions:
- Aligning data to wake-up times reveals distinct activity peaks post-waking.
- Activity patterns differ when analyzed by clock time versus wake-up time, especially on weekends.
- Synchronizing to wake-up times emphasizes circadian rhythms and personal schedules for effective behavior change interventions.
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