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Title: Translation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity recommendations into pedometer-based stepping targets in the Lower Mississippi Delta

Author
item HARRINGTON, DEIRDRE - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item TUDOR-LOCKE, CATRINE - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item CHAMPAGNE, CATHERINE - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item BROYLES, STEPHANIE - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item HARSHA, DAVID - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item KENNEDY, BETTY - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item JOHNSON, WILLIAM - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item ALLEN, RAY - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item KATZMARZYK, PETER - Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Submitted to: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2011
Publication Date: 5/3/2011
Citation: Harrington, D., Tudor-Locke, C., Champagne, C.M., Broyles, S.T., Harsha, D., Kennedy, B.M., Johnson, W.D., Allen, R., Katzmarzyk, P.T. 2011. Translation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity recommendations into pedometer-based stepping targets in the Lower Mississippi Delta [abstract]. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 43(5 Supplement):S235.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) region of the United States is characterized by high levels of poverty, physical inactivity, obesity, and related chronic diseases. There is a pressing need to identify new strategies that will increase adherence to physical activity guidelines. Walking is an important outlet for physical activity in rural populations; however, the number of steps/day in this population that translate to current physical activity guidelines is not known. This study was designed to elucidate how many steps/day equate to standard moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations in a population of the LMD using both accelerometer and pedometer steps. The sample included 58 healthy overweight and obese adults who enrolled in a community-based pedometer intervention in the LMD. Each participant wore an Actigraph GT3X accelerometer for one week. A subgroup of 22 participants also wore a Yamax pedometer. Steps/day were measured and self-reported from the pedometer, and minutes of MVPA and steps/day were derived from the accelerometer. Each individual had at least one day of valid accelerometer and pedometer data, which resulted in 487 and 87 days of data, respectively. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between steps/day and MVPA. Stepping targets were calculated based on a mixed model approach to allow for the non-independence of each day of monitoring within individuals. The empirical statistical model indicated time in MVPA is a good predictor of steps/day output from both the accelerometer (r2=0.58; p<.001) and the pedometer (r2=0.53; p<.001). In this population, 30 minutes of daily MVPA equated to 9093 accelerometer steps/day and 8894 pedometer steps/day. Sixty minutes of MVPA equated to 13,242 accelerometer steps/day and 13,100 pedometer steps/day. These results indicate that the residents of the LMD should be accumulating a minimum of 9000 steps/day to meet the recommendation of 30 minutes/day MVPA. This information is important for setting personal goals for participants when designing community-based interventions in the LMD.