Key result
Measurement methodology produces a ~5-fold variation in estimated physical activity guideline adherence.
Why the study?
The aerobic component of updated physical activity guidelines no longer requires 10-minute bouts, prompting evaluation of population adherence using absolute versus relative cardiorespiratory fitness cut-points.
Does the use of absolute versus relative cut-points affect the assessed adherence to physical activity guidelines in adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,645)
Yes
Does the use of absolute versus relative cut-points affect the assessed adherence to physical activity guidelines in adults?
Absolute thresholds are more appropriate for assessing population-level adherence to physical activity guidelines, whereas relative thresholds may be better suited for individual exercise prescriptions.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Accelerometer processing choices yield divergent adherence estimates; leaves open optimal thresholds for population surveillance versus individualized prescriptions.
Objective: The aerobic part of the recently updated physical activity (PA) guidelines for adults no longer requires the minimum 10-minute bouts for the accumulated time. In this study, the adherence of Finnish adult population to the new PA guidelines was evaluated using both absolute and relative cut-points describing the individual cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in relation to the intensity of PA. Methods: Totally, 1645 adults aged 20-64 years, participated in this study. The participants were instructed to wear a triaxial hip-worn accelerometer for one week. The participants with estimated maximal oxygen uptake less than 7.9 MET were categorized as low CRF group and the others as adequate CRF group. Results: The adequate CRF group had higher adherence to PA guidelines with the absolute thresholds, but the use of relative thresholds inverted the results. The adherence varied from 16 % to 100 % depending on the fitness group and the analysis parameters of accelerometer data. Conclusion: The absolute thresholds provide a more appropriate basis to assess the adherence to PA recommendations in population-based samples and interventions. The use of individually determined relative thresholds may be more useful for individual exercise prescriptions in PA counseling.
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Vähä‐Ypyä et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy adults (n=1,645). Absolute intensity thresholds vs. Relative intensity thresholds was evaluated on Adherence to physical activity guidelines (≥150 min/week). The proportion of adults meeting physical activity guidelines varied drastically from 20.4% using 6-minute exponential moving average with relative thresholds to 99.3% using 6-second epochs with absolute thresholds.
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