Comparison between ActiGraph GT3X and ActivPAL to assess sedentary behavior during the school period

Luciana Leite Silva Barboza,Marcelo Romanzini,Danilo Rodrigues Pereira Da Silva,Enio Ricardo Vaz Ronque,André Oliveira Werneck,David Ohara

doi:10.1590/s1980-657420220012021

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to compare the sedentary time measured using the ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer with the measurement of sitting and standing time obtained by ActivPAL inclinometers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with a sample of 60 schoolchildren (34 males) of one elementary public school in Brazil. The students used both an ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer and an ActivPAL inclinometer, concurrently, positioned at the beginning and removed at the end of the school shift, for four days. For analysis, paired Student's t-tests, Pearson's correlation coefficients, intraclass correlation coefficients, and Bland-Altman plots were used. Results: When comparing sedentary time with sitting time, although correlated (r = 0.53; p < 0.001), the mean minutes were different (134.2 min/day in ActiGraph GT3X vs 120.3 min/day in ActivPAL; p < 0.001), with a bias of 13.9 min/day. When comparing the measurement of sedentary time with the sum of the sitting time plus standing time, different mean minutes were also observed (134.2 min/day in ActiGraph GT3X vs 177.0 min/day in ActivPAL; p < 0.001), and although the correlation was stronger (r = 0.75; p < 0.001), the bias was higher (−42.8 min/day). Conclusion: Sedentary time derived from the ActiGraph GT3X device should be used with caution to evaluate sedentary behavior in a school setting and may be interpreted only as non-moving activities (stationary behavior).

Highlights

Sedentary behavior (SB) is conceptualized as any waking behavior with an energy expenditure of up to 1.5 METs, adopting sitting, reclining, or lying positions[1]
The Bland Altman plot showed that the ActiGraph GT3X measurement was overestimated compared to the ActivPAL (Figure 2A)
The measurement of sedentary time with the ActiGraph GT3X was compared to the sum of sitting time and standing time measurements with the ActivPAL

Summary

Introduction

Sedentary behavior (SB) is conceptualized as any waking behavior with an energy expenditure of up to 1.5 METs, adopting sitting, reclining, or lying positions[1]. To objectively evaluate SB, portable devices such as inclinometers and accelerometers are widely used in scientific research[8,9,10]. One of the most used inclinometers is the ActivPAL, which consists of a small portable device that is fixed to the middle anterior region of the individual's thigh to record time spent in sitting/reclining, standing stationary, and walking activities[11]. The most popular are the ActiGraph GT3X and GT3X+ models, which are typically used at the height of the iliac crest and record information based on threeaxis acceleration, classifying activities as sedentary, light, moderate, or vigorous according to the pattern of acceleration[12]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion