ABSTRACT
Background of the study: Physical activity is important for the development and maintenance of good health as it is associated with many health-related benefits. To increase the rate of physical activity requires accurate measurement. The available activity monitors have been shown to be valid measures of step counts. However, there is little or no evidence on the validity of the available activity monitors in measuring step counts at different speeds in obese and overweight populations.
Aim(s): This study aimed to assess the criterion-related validity of the activPal accelerometer and Omron pedometer for step count taken at different walking speeds among obese and overweight population.
Methodology: Total steps taken by both activpal and pedometer were compared to direct observations of steps taken using a video and handtally during a three minute period of treadmill walking at 0.88,1.67ms and self- selected speed (PWS).
Results: The mean age of participants was 22.0±0.999years The mean BMI of participants was 33.00±2.372kg/m2, on average the activpal underestimated steps taken at 0.88m/s and overestimated steps taken at 1.67m/s but accurately measured steps taken at preferred walking speed (PWS), the pedometer poorly estimated steps taken at 0.88m/s, but accurately measured steps taken at 1.67m/s as well as preferred speed.
Conclusion: The activpal monitor and pedometer are valid tools for measuring step counts and are comparable to the gold standard (video recording) at preferred walking speed in the obese and overweight population. However, the accuracy of activpal and pedometer was diminished in measuring step counts at slow speed. Further the accuracy of the activpal was diminished in measuring step counts at fast walking speeds, while the pedometer accurately measured step counts at fast walking speeds.
Keywords: Step count, activpal, pedometer, obesity, overweight, undergraduates, validity.
