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The relationship between pedometer-determined ambulatory activity and body composition variables

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 1571–1578 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between pedometer-determined ambulatory activity (steps/day) and body composition variables body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat).

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional objective activity monitoring study for up to 21 consecutive days.

SUBJECTS: A total of 109 apparently healthy adults (eight African American males, 23 African-American females, 33 Caucasian males, 45 Caucasian females), age 44.9±15.8 y, BMI=26.9±5.1 kg/m2.

MEASUREMENTS: Pedometer-assessed ambulatory activity (steps/day), height and weight, and percentage body fat by bioelectrical impedance.

RESULTS: Analyzed as both a continuous and a categorical variable (determined using 25th and 75th percentiles for distribution for steps/day), ambulatory activity was consistently related to body composition variables. Steps/day was inversely correlated with BMI and percentage body fat (r=−0.30, and r=−0.27, respectively, both P<0.01). The consistency of the relationship was also evident when examined using accepted BMI cut-off points for normal-weight, overweight, and obese categories.

CONCLUSIONS: Individuals in this small sample with values greater than approximately 9000 steps/day are more frequently classified as normal weight for height. Individuals with values less than approximately 5000 steps/day are more frequently classified as obese. These findings require further corroborative investigation but provide preliminary cutoff points for identifying individuals at risk who may benefit from appropriate physical activity intervention.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grant number U48/CCU409664 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We wish to acknowledge Angie Morgan, Melinda Irwin and Bill Bartoli for their assistance with completion of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    C Tudor-Locke & BE Ainsworth

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    BE Ainsworth & CL Addy

  3. Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    BE Ainsworth & RW Thompson

  4. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    MC Whitt

  5. Division of Physical Activity and Nutrition, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    DA Jones

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Correspondence to C Tudor-Locke.

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Tudor-Locke, C., Ainsworth, B., Whitt, M. et al. The relationship between pedometer-determined ambulatory activity and body composition variables. Int J Obes 25, 1571–1578 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801783

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