Abstract
Significant advances have been made in the measurement of physical activity in youth over the past decade. Monitors and protocols promote very high compliance, both night and day, and raw measures are available rather than "black box" counts. Consequently, many surveys and studies worldwide now assess children's physical behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) objectively 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using accelerometers. The availability of raw acceleration data in many of these studies is both an opportunity and a challenge. The richness of the data lends itself to the continued development of innovative metrics, whereas the removal of proprietary outcomes offers considerable potential for comparability between data sets and harmonizing data. Using comparable physical activity outcomes could lead to improved precision and generalizability of recommendations for children's present and future health. The author will discuss 2 strategies that he believes may help ensure comparability between studies and maximize the potential for data harmonization, thereby helping to capitalize on the growing body of accelerometer data describing children's physical behaviors.
Highlights
D the ActiGraph or Actical monitor worn on a belt at the waist and removed for water-based activities and sleep
To give biological meaning to the output, cut-points were developed to calibrate accelerometer output, typically using regression or ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves to convert accelerometer counts to estimates of time spent at a given activity intensity, e.g. time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) [3]
There are a number of cut-points available for use with each of the various accelerometer brands; which of the available cut-points are selected can have a large effect on activity outcomes
Summary
D the ActiGraph or Actical monitor worn on a belt at the waist and removed for water-based activities and sleep. Maximising data comparability - How (I think) we should get there Individual studies will use a variety of approaches and outcome measures to address specific research questions and/or employ innovative metrics. To aid comparability it would be beneficial if, where possible, researchers could make key standardised physical activity metrics available, much as other standard information such as age, height and mass is always given.
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