Time Trends in Physical Activity Using Wearable Devices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies from 1995 to 2017
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2022
Abstract
Introduction: Conflicting evidence exists on whether physical activity (PA) levels of humans have changed over the last quarter-century. The main objective of this study was to determine if there is evidence of time trends in PA, from cross-sectional studies that assessed PA at different time points using wearable devices (e.g., pedometers and accelerometers). A secondary objective was to quantify the rate of change in PA. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted of English-language studies indexed in PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science (1960–2020) using search terms (time OR temporal OR secular) AND trends AND (steps per day OR pedometer OR accelerometer OR MVPA). Subsequently, a meta-analytic approach was used to aggregate data from multiple studies and to examine specific factors (i.e., sex, age-group, sex and age-group, and PA metric). Results: Based on 16 peer-reviewed scientific studies conducted between 1995 and 2017, levels of ambulatory PA are trending downward in developed countries. Significant declines were seen in both males and females (P < 0.001) as well as in children (P = 0.020), adolescents (P < 0.001), and adults (P = 0.004). . The average study duration was 9.4 yr (accelerometer studies, 5.3 yr; pedometer studies, 10.8 yr). For studies that assessed steps, the average change in PA was −1118 steps per day over the course of the study (P < 0.001), and adolescents had the greatest change in PA at −2278 steps per day (P < 0.001). Adolescents also had the steepest rate of change over time, expressed in steps per day per decade. Conclusions: Evidence from studies conducted in eight developed nations over a 22-yr period indicates that PA levels have declined overall, especially in adolescents. This study emphasizes the need for continued research tracking time trends in PA using wearable devices.
Publication Information
Conger, Scott A.; Toth, Lindsay P.; Cretsinger, Channie; Raustorp, Anders; Mitáš, Josef; Inoue, Shigeru; and Bassett, David R.. (2022). "Time Trends in Physical Activity Using Wearable Devices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies from 1995 to 2017". Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 54(2), 288-298. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002794