BMI-Referenced Cut Points for Pedometer-Determined Steps per Day in Adults
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthClick name to view affiliation
Background:
The goal of this study was to establish preliminary criterion-referenced cut points for adult pedometer-determined physical activity (PA) related to weight status defined by body mass index (BMI).
Methods:
Researchers contributed directly measured BMI and pedometer data that had been collected (1) using a Yamax-manufactured pedometer, (2) for a minimum of 3 days, (3) on ostensibly healthy adults. The contrasting groups method was used to identify age- and gender-specific cut points for steps/d related to BMI cut points for normal weight and overweight/obesity (defined as BMI <25 and ≥25 kg/m2, respectively).
Results:
Data included 3127 individuals age 18 to 94 years (976 men, age = 46.8 ± 15.4 years, BMI = 27.3 ± 4.9; 2151 women, age = 47.4 ± 14.9 years, BMI = 27.6 ± 6.4; all gender differences NS). Best estimated cut points for normal versus overweight/obesity ranged from 11,000 to 12,000 steps/d for men and 8000 to 12,000 steps/d for women (consistently higher for younger age groups).
Conclusions:
These steps/d cut points can be used to identify individuals at risk, or the proportion of adults achieving or falling short of set cut points can be reported and compared between populations. Cut points can also be used to set intervention goals, and they can be referred to when evaluating program impact, as well as environmental and policy changes.
Tudor-Locke, Ainsworth, Mrozek, and Wilde are with the Dept of Exercise and Wellness, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ 85212. Bassett and Thompson are with the Dept of Exercise, Sport, and Leisure Studies, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996. Rutherford is with the Dept of Exercise and Sport Science, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475. Chan is with the Dept of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3 Canada. Croteau is with the Dept of Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME 04038. Giles-Corti is with the School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia 6009. Le Masurier is with Malapina University-College, Nanaimo, BC, Canada V9R 5S5. Moreau is with the Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO 80045. Oppert is with the Dept of Nutrition, Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, 75013 Paris, France. Raustorp is with the School of Human Science, University of Kalmar, SE 391 82 Kalmar, Sweden. Strath is with the Dept of Human Movement Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201. Whitt-Glover is with the Dept of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 17157. Wojcik is with the Dept of Health and Physical Education, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 29733.
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