Measuring and Assessing Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour

What you need to know: Key Knowledge Key Skills Know and Understand what the subjective and objective methods of assessing physical activity are and what sedentary behaviour is. Methods that you must know: Recall surveys or diaries Pedometry Accelerometry Observational tools Understand how these can be used to assess the if an individual is meeting the National Physical Activity Guidelines Compare and contrast subjective and objective methods of assessing sedentary behaviour and physical activity compliance with the National Physical Activity Guidelines Collect, measure and evaluate data using subjective and objective methods of assessing physical activity and sedentary behaviour

Benefits of physical activity Being active is good for you in so many ways. It provides enjoyable experiences, makes you feel good and improve your health. Social benefits – improves; social skills, self esteem, confidence, family and community links & reduces isolation/loneliness. Physical and mental benefits – Improves; quality of life, weight control, sleep, motor skills, concentration, memory & learning. Environmental benefits – reduces; traffic congestion, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions & noise pollution. Economic benefits – creates employment, reduces absenteeism, increased health savings & supports local businesses. Health benefits – reduces; risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, colon cancer, depression. Maintains healthy body weight, healthy bones, muscles & joints.

How does Physical Activity benefit you?? Think of the Physical Activity that you currently participate in. How do you benefit from participating in Physical Activity? Why do you continue to participate?

Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour When measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour among individuals and populations you will be exploring the measurement of different dimensions of physical activity and the use of several subjective and objective measures. Dimensions: Frequency Intensity Duration Type

Think, Discuss & Share Why is it important to measure Physical Activity levels? What differences exist between measuring Physical Activity at a; Population Level Individual Level What does it mean to be sedentary?

What does it mean to be sedentary / physically active? Physical Activity Sedentary Behaviour Is defined as any movement of the body produced by skeletal muscles and that results in energy expenditure Associated with low levels of energy expenditure, sitting for long periods of time & not moving around

Reasons to assess Physical Activity Identify issues and concerns with health and fitness Identify at risk groups Identify and understand current trends Monitor physical activity Plan appropriate interventions for promoting physical activity Evaluate success of interventions

Australia’s Physical Activity Guidelines and Sedantary Behaviours (NEW CONTENT)

Guidelines for early childhood 0 – 5yrs These recommendations are for children who haven’t started school yet Birth to 1 year: supervised floor based play in safe environments should be encouraged from birth Type (T): Before infants begin to crawl PA should include; reaching, grasping, pulling, pushing & tummy time, play music to encourage playful movements, encourage movement and play during bath time 1 to 5 years: should be physically active every day (F) for at least 3 hours a day spread throughout the day (D). Type (T): Active play: play with different sized and shaped balls/balloons, play games: hide and seek, follow the leader, move to music: ‘ring-a-rosie’ & ‘heads, shoulders, knees and toes’ Benefits: maintain weight, build strong bones & muscles, improve balance & co-ordination, brain development, encourage self confidence

Sedentary Guidelines for early childhood 0 – 5yrs Regardless of how active kids may be at other times, it is still important to limit screen time Children less than 2 years: should not spend any time watching TV or using other electronic media 2-5 year olds: sitting, watching TV and the use of electronic media should be limited to less than one hour a day Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers should not be sedentary, retrained or kept inactive for more than one hour at a time, with the exception of sleeping

Guidelines for early childhood 5 – 12yrs At least 60 minutes (D) a day (F) – in many different ways (can be accumulated throughout the day). To achieve additional benefits, children should engage in more activity - up to several hours a day Moderate to Vigorous intensity (I) Moderate: fast walking, bike riding Vigorous: huff and puff, running, chasing, Variety of activities (T) – doesn’t just have to be participation in sport. It is important to include muscle and bone strengthening activities at least 3 days of the week. Sedentary Guidelines: No more than 2 hours a day spent on using electronic media for entertainment Benefits: fun with friends, develops co-operation & team work, Improves self –esteem & concentration, reduces weight related health risks, promotes healthy growth and development

Guidelines for early childhood 13 – 17yrs At least 60 minutes (D) of moderate to vigorous (I) physical activity every day (F). Greater amounts (up to 3 hours) benefit you even more. At least 3 days of the week should include strengthening and weight activities. Type (T): body weight exercises, aerobic activities, team sports No more than 2 hours of electronic media and break up long periods of sitting down Benefits: helps to achieve better at school, improves self-esteem & confidence, Improves concentration, reduces the risk of weight related conditions

Guidelines for early childhood 18 – 64yrs Think of movement as an opportunity not an inconvenience Be active on most, preferably all, days of the week. Each week: 150 mins of moderate intensity OR 75 mins of vigorous intensity physical activity Increasing to: 300 mins of moderate intensity OR 50 mins of vigorous intensity physical activity 10 minutes of vigorous intensity activity is equal to 20 minutes of moderate activity Also enjoy some regular vigorous activity for extra health & fitness benefits Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week Benefits: Reduced risk of CV disease, maintain blood pressure, increased rehabilitation, reduced risk of some cancers, promotes physical and mental wellbeing

Older Adults 65+ years Older people should do some form of physical activity, no matter their age, weight or health problems Older people should be active every day in as many ways as possible, doing a range of physical activities that incorporate fitness, strength, balance and flexibility Should accumulate at least 30mins of moderate intensity physical activity on most, preferably all days Activity should be start at a level that is easily manageable and gradually build up the recommended amount, type and frequency Older people who continue to enjoy a lifetime of vigorous PA should carry on doing so in a manner suited to their capability

Overweight or obese children & youth Participate in more physical activity than currently being engaged in Should be prescribed for prevention of obesity in children and youth Prescription should be based on age appropriate activity

Overweight or obese adults Engage in 60 minutes of physical activity every day Once weight is lost, 60-90 minutes of activity per day to avoid weight regain.

Sedentary Behaviour Sedentary means staying in the same place for much of the time and expending low amounts of energy. In the table below Alli, Matt & Zowie are all 17 years old. Do they all meet the NPAG’s?   Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Alli 110 30 20 120 50 70 240 Matt 62 60 65 90 Zowie 150 35 75

Complete the following questions….. NPAG’s for children exist for both physical activity and sedentary behaviour. It is recommended children aged 5-13 years engage in no more than 2 hours a day using electronic media for entertainment particularly during daylight hours. Outline the sedentary behaviour recommendation for children aged under 2 years of age? (1 mark)    Jack is a highly active 14 year old does this mean he must spend little time engaged in sedentary behaviours such as using the internet or watching DVDs? Explain your response. (3 marks) Total 5 marks

TASK Make summary cards for each age group You must include: Physical Activity and Sedantary guidelines will be referred to a lot throughout the year. You need to have an in depth understanding of the dimensions for each of the age groups. Make summary cards for each age group You must include: Frequency Intensity Duration Type Sedentary Guidelines

Methods of assessing physical activity

Measuring Intensity Metabolic Equivalent (MET) levels Is a comparison between an average person’s metabolic rate while at rest and their metabolic rate while engaging in activity METABOLIC RATE – The amount of energy expended at rest or during activity. The MET value is based on the amount of oxygen consumed. A MET value is an estimation Dependent on an individual’s age and gender

Intensity MET’s Energy Expended (kJ/min) % max HR Eg’s Low < 3 <15 <50 Walking slowly, golf, gardening, household chores Moderate 3 – 6 50 – 70 Bike riding, playing tennis, dancing, weight lifting Vigorous 7+ 70+ Skipping, running, boxing, playing squash Familiarise yourself with Table 1.6 page 11 of your textbook.

Subjective v’s Objective Depend on our own perceptions Used to measure PA predominantly used for populations Include Diaries or logs and Recall Instruments Rely on solid data or observations Predominantly used for measurement in individuals Devices are HR monitors, Pedometers, Accelerometers & Direct Observation

Self and Proxy Report Measures Most commonly used Include: Self administered recalls Interviewer administered recalls Questionnaires Diaries or Logs Proxy report measures are used when a person reports on behalf of someone else (eg. parents of small children)

DIARIES: Detailed record of individual PA undertaken in a given day, as the activities are completed or soon after Used for short time frames, therefore not a true representation of an individual’s long term PA pattern Diaries require extensive effort by the person completing them The person may change their PA while they are completing them Able to assess PA across multiple domains - leisure, household, transport, occupation

LOGS: Record the time participants spend in broad categories of activity (eg. Sitting, standing, walking) Provide detail about type, intensity and pattern of activity Requires effort from the participant to complete the log Can easily influence the participants behaviour Good to record specific information

Recall Instruments RECALL SURVEY: Requires the respondent to remember what PA they engaged in the previous day, week, month or year. Less likely to influence behaviour and require less effort. Made up of simple questions of 5-15 items The questions investigate the PA patterns Provide basic information for a large population group.

Advantages Disadvantages Inexpensive Easy to Administer Quick to administer Low burden on participants Suitable for small groups Able to provide detailed information on context of an activity. Eg. subject’s feelings, location, weather Heavy subject burden Difficulty recalling events Misinterpret information/questions Not suitable for assessing children under 10 or older adults due to cognitive limitations Socially desirability bias Interviewer may be needed to obtain accurate data

Activity Over the next week you are required to keep a diary of all the physical activity you participate in Think about the domains of activity Record information on F,I,D,T After you have completed the diary, what do you see to be the limitations of this method?

Objective measures of physical activity Often rely on solid data or observations Predominately used in measurement in individuals Devices used are pedometer, heart-rate monitor or accelerometer Remove disadvantages associated with subjective measures

Heart Rate Monitors Provides a direct indicator of physiological responses to physical activity. Used to estimate PA as energy expenditure, based on the assumption of a linear association between HR and energy expenditure. Records beats per minute (bpm) on a watch and can be transferred to a computer. Disadvantage: during low intensity PA the relationship between HR and energy expenditure is often not linear Stress, fear, excitement & changes in body temp can affect HR

An example of h.r data Ironman (3.8k swim / 180km bike / 42.195km run)

Advantages Disadvantages Specific to physiological parameters Easy to use Clear in describing intensity Simple and quick to collect data Can be costly: limits use in big groups Use restricted to aerobic activities Can see variations to heart rate due to personal and environmental factors (eg. Stress, heat, emotions)

Pedometry Device that records the number of steps taken and estimates the stride length (distance) and energy expenditure Worn on the hip Responds to vertical force For health benefits you should be aiming for 10,000 steps per day Advantages Disadvantages Inexpensive Small, lightweight, non-invasive Easy to administer in large groups Potential to promote behaviour change High variability among pedometers Lack of stable calibration Doesn’t record F, I, T, T Possibility of participant tampering Reactivity – causes participant to change behaviour

Pedometry <5000 steps / day = Sedentary 5000 – 7499 steps / day = Inactive 7500–9999 steps/day = Somewhat active > 10,000 steps / day = Active CHILDREN Boys = at least 13,000 steps / day Girls = at least 11,000 steps / day

Accelerometry Motion sensors worn on the hip to assess the acceleration of the body in certain directions Provides detail on F, I, D Provides minute by minute data Detects movement patterns Advantages Disadvantages Small & lightweight Low burden Good for children under 10 yrs Can measure PA that is difficult to measure eg; incidental or light intensity, sedentary time Able to provide minute by minute data Expensive Not sensitive to low impact PA eg; cycling/rollerblading/activities using the upper body Subject compliance Inability to provide behavioural date(what are people doing?)

Direct Observation Watching people’s physical activity levels within specific settings (Type, time, place & social setting) Can collect data across a range of areas: F,I,D,T Good to use in conjunction with other methods Can be time consuming Observers require training More common assessing PA of children but can be used with adults A variety of methods BEACHES SOFIT SOPLAY

Objective measures: Direct observation. Stats!

WWW. Some useful sites with behavioural observation measurement instruments. SOFIT (system for observing fitness instruction time) www.rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/sallis/sofitprotocol.pdf SOPLAY (system for observing play & leisure in youth) www.rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/sallis/SOPLAYprotocol.pdf

Measurement trade off !!!!!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT, SOOOOO LISTEN There are many ways to measure PA, but with each there is a trade off between practicality and its accuracy (validity).

Practicality & Accuracy trade off: Recall (s) Pedometers (o) Accelerometers (o) Heart rate (o) PA logs (s) Practicality Diaries (s) Direct observation (o) 0=objective S=subjective Accuracy

Assessing physical activity for validity and reliability To assess physical activity or sedentary behaviour fairly and accurately, any method used must be valid and reliable. A valid assessment method is one that tests the right, or appropriate, quality. A reliable assessment method is one that can be repeatedly performed with the same results. For example: asking people to recall activity undertaken in the past week using a list of activities as a prompt is a reliable test.

Important notes! Make sure the assessment instrument is appropriate for the target group – appropriate for a 12 year old or a 30 year old. Is there a difference?? Where cost and time permit, a combination of measures is usually the most effective option to measure physical activity.