scholarly journals Physical Activity Trend eXtraction: A Framework for Extracting Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity Trends From Wearable Fitness Tracker Data (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Faust ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
David Hachen ◽  
Omar Lizardo ◽  
Nitesh V Chawla
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Trend Extraction ◽  
First Case ◽  
Fitness Tracker ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Fitness Trackers

BACKGROUND Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) offers extensive health benefits but is neglected by many. As a result, a wide body of research investigating physical activity behavior change has been conducted. As many of these studies transition from paper-based methods of MVPA data collection to fitness trackers, a series of challenges arise in extracting insights from these new data. OBJECTIVE The objective of this research was to develop a framework for preprocessing and extracting MVPA trends from wearable fitness tracker data to support MVPA behavior change studies. METHODS Using heart rate data collected from fitness trackers, we propose Physical Activity Trend eXtraction (PATX), a framework that imputes missing data, recalculates personalized target heart zones, and extracts MVPA trends. We tested our framework on a dataset of 123 college study participants observed across 2 academic years (18 months) using Fitbit Charge HRs. To demonstrate the value of our frameworks’ output in supporting MVPA behavior change studies, we applied it to 2 case studies. RESULTS Among the 123 participants analyzed, PATX labeled 41 participants as experiencing a significant increase in MVPA and 44 participants who experienced a significant decrease in MVPA, with significance defined as P<.05. Our first case study was consistent with previous works investigating the associations between MVPA and mental health. Whereas the second, exploring how individuals perceive their own levels of MVPA relative to their friends, led to a novel observation that individuals were less likely to notice changes in their own MVPA when close ties in their social network mimicked their changes. CONCLUSIONS By providing meaningful and flexible outputs, PATX alleviates data concerns common with fitness trackers to support MVPA behavior change studies as they shift to more objective assessments of MVPA.

scholarly journals Improving the Physical Activity of Breast Cancer Survivors Through Fitness Trackers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lynch ◽  
S. Bird ◽  
F. Barnett ◽  
N. Lythgo ◽  
I. Selva-Raj
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Behaviour ◽  
Fitness Tracker ◽  
Fitness Trackers ◽  
Activity Behaviour

Introduction: Increasing physical activity among posttreatment breast cancer survivors is essential, as greater physical activity reduces the relative risk of cancer-specific mortality. This trial examines how a fitness tracker-based intervention changes the physical activity behaviour of inactive posttreatment breast cancer survivors. Methods: Seventeen physically inactive posttreatment breast cancer survivors participated in a randomised cross-over controlled trial. Participants underwent a 12-week intervention of a fitness tracker combined with a behavioural counselling and goal-setting session and 12 weeks of normal activity (control). The primary outcome was the change in physical activity assessed by accelerometry over seven days. Results: The intervention achieved a mean increase of 4.5 min/day of moderate-vigorous physical activity, representative of a small-moderate effect (d = 0.34). Changes in time spent as a proportion of the day in light physical activity (-8.3%) and in sedentary behaviour (7.9%), were both significantly different to baseline (t (16) = 3.522, p < 0.01; t (16) = -3.162, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Interindividual differences in the change of patterns of physical activity behaviour suggest that only for some, fitness trackers can achieve a change in the level of moderate-vigorous physical activity.

Physical activity behavior change: Issues in adoption and maintenance.

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (1, Suppl) ◽  
pp. 32-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bess H. Marcus ◽  
LeighAnn H. Forsyth ◽  
Elaine J. Stone ◽  
Patricia M. Dubbert ◽  
Thomas L. McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

scholarly journals Gamified Wearable Fitness Tracker for Physical Activity: A Comprehensive Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7017
Author(s):  
Inje Cho ◽  
Kyriaki Kaplanidou ◽  
Shintaro Sato
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Point Of Interest ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Fitness Tracker ◽  
Fitness Trackers ◽  
Sustainable Health

Recently, gamified wearable fitness trackers have received greater attention and usage among sport consumers. Although a moderate amount of aerobic physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of many serious illnesses, physical inactivity issues are still prominent. Although wearable fitness trackers have the potential to contribute to physical activity engagement and sustainable health outcomes, there are dwindling engagement and discontinuance issues. Thus, examining its gamification elements and role in physical activity becomes critical. This study examined the gamification elements in wearable fitness trackers and their role in physical activity and sports engagement. A comprehensive literature review yielded 26 articles that empirically measured a variety of gamification features and the effect of the device on physical activity and sports engagement. The study suggests three key gamification themes: goal-based, social-based, and rewards-based gamification that can be a point of interest for future scholars and practitioners. Based on the review, we propose a conceptual framework that embraces motivational affordances and engagement in physical activity and sports.

scholarly journals Validation of self-reported physical activity by accelerometry among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Mary Vincent Mosha ◽  
Elizabeth Kasagama ◽  
Philip Ayieko ◽  
Jim Todd ◽  
Sia E. Msuya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Moderate Positive Correlation

Background: Self-reports are commonly used to assess physical activity in children.  Existing self-reports for physical activity have not been validated for use among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In order to understand if primary school children can accurately report their physical activity, we examined the validity of self-reported physical activity against accelerometer measured physical activity. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July, 2018 among four primary schools in Moshi municipal and Moshi rural districts, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.  A total of 51 primary school children aged 9–11 years were enrolled using a simple random sampling technique. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect physical activity related variables. In addition, children wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days to capture physical activity movements. Spearman’s rank test and Bland Altman plots were used for assessing validity and agreement between self-reports and accelerometer moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Results: The mean age of the study participants was 10 (SD=0.8) years. Majority of the study participants were female 32 (63%). A moderate, positive correlation was found between self-reports and accelerometer MVPA (rho=0.36, p=0.009). Accelerometer had higher MVPA compared to self-reports. Children who reported walking to school had higher MVPA for both accelerometer and self- reports compared to children who use other means of transport to school, e.g. school buses (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study found the moderate positive correlation between self-reports and accelerometers. Self-reports are prone to errors due to recall bias, and this interferes their validity.  More research is needed to develop better self-reported measures with specific activities which can easily be recalled by children. Also, researchers have to be aware of self-reports validity limitation.

scholarly journals Effects of a Fundamental Motor Skill-Based Afterschool Program on Children’s Physical and Cognitive Health Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joonyoung Lee ◽  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Tsz Lun (Alan) Chu ◽  
Xiangli Gu ◽  
Ping Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Afterschool Program ◽  
Cognitive Health

Globally, more than half of school-aged children do not engage in the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Given that developing sufficient fundamental motor skills (FMS) competence during early elementary school years is important for a child’s physical and cognitive development, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week FMS-based afterschool program on physical and cognitive health outcomes among elementary children. Participants were 31 K–2 students (19 girls, 12 boys; Mage = 6.65 ± 0.98) from three public elementary schools in the southwestern United States who were assigned to the intervention group (FMS-based afterschool program; n = 20) or the control group (traditional afterschool program; n = 11). A 2 × 2 repeated measures MANOVA showed significant changes in FMS competence and MVPA between the intervention and the control group over time. However, no significant changes were found in cognitive functioning. The 8-week FMS-based afterschool program showed significant improvements in FMS competence and MVPA, compared to a traditional afterschool program. This finding suggests that structured FMS-focused strategies (e.g., fun games and goal setting) can be a critical component when implementing a physical activity program to enhance children’s motor skills and physical activity behavior.

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