Publication Date

2021

Journal or Book Title

Journal of Epidemiology

Abstract

Background: Daily step count is the simplest measure of physical activity. However, little is known about how daily step count related to time spent in different intensities of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB). Methods: These cross-sectional data were derived from 450 older Japanese adults (56.7% men; mean age, 74.3 years) who were randomly selected from three communities and responded a survey. Daily step count and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light-intensity PA (LPA), and SB were measured using a validated wearable technology (HJA-350IT). Associations of daily step count with time spent in measured behaviors were examined using linear regression models with isometric log-ratio transformations of time-use composition, adjusting for gender, age, and residential area. Results: Participants averaged 5,412 (standard deviation, 2,878) steps/d and accumulated MVPA, LPA, and SB corresponding to 4.0%, 34.8%, and 61.2% of daily waking time, respectively. Daily step count significantly increased with increase in time spent in MVPA relative to other behaviors (ie, LPA and SB) and in the ratio of LPA to SB after allowing for MVPA. After stratification, daily step count was significantly related to the ratio of LPA to SB in those taking <5,000 steps/d, but not in those taking 5,000-7,499 and >= 7,500 steps/d. Conclusions: Higher daily step count can be an indicator of not only larger relative contribution of time spent in MVPA, but also higher ratio between LPA and SB, particularly among those who are the least physically active.

ISSN

0917-5040

ORCID

Inoue, Shigeru/0000-0003-1931-2613; Amagasa, Shiho/0000-0002-6047-0771

DOI

https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.je20200080

Volume

31

Issue

5

License

UMass Amherst Open Access Policy

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Funder

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHIMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceGrants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) [JP19H03910, JP20500604, JP16H03249, JP15H02964]; MEXTMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT); Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and TechnologyMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) [S1511017]; JSPS Research Fellowships for Young ScientistsMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; National Health and Medical Research Council of AustraliaNational Health and Medical Research Council of AustraliaUK Research & Innovation (UKRI)Medical Research Council UK (MRC) [1003960]; NHMRC Centre for Research ExcellenceNational Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [1057608]; Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program

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