How much locomotive activity is needed for an active physical activity level: analysis of total step counts.

Kazunori Ohkawara,Izumi Tabata,Shigeho Tanaka,Jong Hoon Park,Kazuko Ishikawa-Takata

doi:10.1186/1756-0500-4-512

Kazunori Ohkawara, Izumi Tabata + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-4-512

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Abstract

BackgroundAlthough physical activity recommendations for public health have focused on locomotive activity such as walking and running, it is uncertain how much these activities contribute to overall physical activity level (PAL). The purpose of the present study was to determine the contribution of locomotive activity to PAL using total step counts measured in a calorimeter study.MethodsPAL, calculated as total energy expenditure divided by basal metabolic rate, was evaluated in 11 adult men using three different conditions for 24-hour human calorimeter measurements: a low-activity day (L-day) targeted at a low active level of PAL (1.45), and a high-frequency moderate activity day (M-day) or a high-frequency vigorous activity day (V-day) targeted at an active level of PAL (1.75). These subjects were permitted only light activities except prescribed activities. In a separate group of 41 adults, free-living PAL was evaluated using doubly-labeled water (DLW). In both experiments, step counts per day were also measured using an accelerometer.ResultsIn the human calorimeter study, PAL and step counts were 1.42 ± 0.10 and 8,973 ± 543 steps/d (L-day), 1.82 ± 0.14 and 29,588 ± 1,126 steps/d (M-day), and 1.74 ± 0.15 and 23,755 ± 1,038 steps/d (V-day), respectively. In the DLW study, PAL and step counts were 1.73 ± 0.15 and 10,022 ± 2,605 steps/d, and there was no significant relationship between PAL and daily step counts.ConclusionsThese results indicate that an enormous number of steps are needed for an active level of PAL if individuals extend physical activity-induced energy expenditure by only locomotive activity. Therefore, non-locomotive activity such as household activity should also play a significant role in increasing PAL under free-living conditions.

Highlights

Physical activity recommendations for public health have focused on locomotive activity such as walking and running, it is uncertain how much these activities contribute to overall physical activity level (PAL)
There was no significant difference between Basal metabolic rate (BMR) on the low-activity day (L-day), moderate activity day (M-day), or vigorous activity day (V-day)
According to the system of PAL categorization described in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report [8], mean PAL values on the M-day and V-day would be classified as “active” and mean PAL on the L-day would be classified as “low activity”

Summary

Introduction

Physical activity recommendations for public health have focused on locomotive activity such as walking and running, it is uncertain how much these activities contribute to overall physical activity level (PAL). The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) “Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health” [2] following the 2008 “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans” [3] has proposed more than 150 min of moderate-intensity PA per week to maintain body weight. The PA recommendation for body weight management in the 2005 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” [7] was adopted in large part from an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report [8]. These guidelines recommended approximately 60 min of above-moderate-intensity PA on most days of the week. Differences in study design such as the use of clinical trials vs. cross-sectional studies likely contribute to the different PA recommendations, the use of different methods to measure PA may play a role in these differences

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