TitleNormative steps/day and peak cadence values for united states children and adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsBarreira, TV, Schuna, Jr, JM, Mire, EF, Broyles, ST, Katzmarzyk, PT, Johnson, WD, Tudor-Locke, C
JournalJ Pediatr
Volume166
Issue1
Pagination139-43
Date Published01/2015
ISSN1097-6833
KeywordsAccelerometry, Actigraphy, Adolescent, Age Factors, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Nutrition Surveys, Reference Values, Sex Factors, United States, Walking, Young Adult
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To provide sex-and-age specific normative values for children and adolescents' accelerometer-determined steps/day, and peak 60-minute cadence adjusted to a pedometer-based scale.

STUDY DESIGN: The analysis sample was 2610 children and adolescents (1329 girls) from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Accelerometer data were adjusted by eliminating steps counted when activity counts/min <500. Peak 60-minute cadence represented the 60 highest minutes of accumulated steps, averaged over monitored days. Normative data included quintile-defined categories of adjusted steps/day and peak 60-minute cadence for 7 age groups (6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, 16-17, and 18-19 years). LMSChartmakerPro produced 10 age-group-specific smoothed curves (5 for each sex) showing the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles, respectively, for steps/day and peak 60-minute cadence.

RESULTS: Steps/day was inversely associated with age in both boys and girls. The age-associated reduction was apparent in only small decrements for boys; the girl's reduction was steeper. Boys appeared to maintain or increase their peak 60-minute cadence with increased age between 8 and 15 years of age, with a reduction apparent over the last 2 age groups investigated. The peak 60-minute cadence was more variable for girls; a similar sharp reduction (3-6 steps/min) in tandem with the steps/day was apparent between 10- to 11-year-old girls and 12- to 13-year-old girls.

CONCLUSIONS: We provided detailed information and normative data pertaining to steps/d and peak 60-minute cadence in US children and adolescents. Like well-known body mass index growth curves, these data may be useful for scientists and clinical practitioners.

DOI10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.09.014
Alternate JournalJ Pediatr
PubMed ID25311710