Physical activity in an indigenous Ecuadorian forager-horticulturalist population as measured using accelerometry
Open accessAbstract
Objective: Minimal information on physical activity is available for non‐Western populations undergoing the transition to a market economy. This is unfortunate given the importance of these data for understanding health issues such as the global obesity epidemic. We consider the utility of using accelerometry technology to examine activity patterns and energy use regulation among indigenous Shuar, an Ecuadorian forager‐horticulturalist population undergoing economic and lifestyle change. We investigate sex differences in Shuar activity patterns and the effects of reproductive status on activity. Finally, we discuss the potential of accelerometry use in human biology research. Methods: Physical activity levels were measured using Actical accelerometers in 49 indigenous Shuar adults (23 males, 26 females) from a rural Ecuadorian community. Female participants were in various reproductive states including pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant/nonlactating. Results: Activity counts (AC), activity energy expenditure (AEE), and physical activity levels (PAL) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in males than females. Significant differences in energy expenditure were found among pregnant or lactating females and males with pregnant or lactating partners (P < 0.001). Males with pregnant or lactating partners also had significantly higher activity levels than did other men (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Shuar activity levels are relatively low compared to other non‐Western populations. Despite increasing market integration, pregnant and lactating females seem to be adopting a strategy noted in other subsistence populations where male participation in subsistence activities increases to compensate for their partners' elevated reproductive costs. Despite certain limitations, use of accelerometry in human biology research shows promise. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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In other subsistence groups, activity level and energy expenditure estimates often have small sample sizes and restricted age ranges.
“In other subsistence groups where activity levels and energy expenditure have been estimated, sample sizes are often small and of restricted age ranges, e.g. [11], [12].”
From Physical Activity and Modernization among Bolivian Amerindians (2013) · cites this paper as [12]
A recent study of activity among Shuar forager-horticulturalists of Ecuador using an Actical accelerometer reported low mean PALs of 1.54 for men and 1.42 for women.
“For example, a recent study of activity among Shuar forager-horticulturalists of Ecuador using an Actical accelerometer reported low mean PALs of 1.54 for men and 1.42 for women [12].”
From Physical Activity and Modernization among Bolivian Amerindians (2013) · cites this paper as [12]
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MethodMadimenos, F. C., Snodgrass, J. J., Liebert, M. A., Cepon‐Robins, T. J., & Sugiyama, L. S. (2012) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.22329 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
“As reported American Journal of Human Biology elsewhere (Madimenos et al., 2011a), Shuar females have modestly higher premenopausal bone density values when compared to industrialized populations including U.S., German, and Korean reference populations, but similar values were found among…”
BackgroundResultSelf-citationZanello, G., Srinivasan, C. S., & Nkegbe, P. K. (2017) · Development Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.deveng.2017.10.001 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“Madimenos et al. (2011) investigated gender di ff erences in activity patterns and the e ff ects of reproductive status on activity of Shuar adults, an Ecuadorian forager-horticulturalist population.”
Madimenos, F. C., Gildner, T. E., Eick, G. N., Sugiyama, L. S., & Snodgrass, J. J. (2022) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.23808 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Self-citationChristopher, L., Madimenos, F., Bribiescas, R., Urlacher, S., Snodgrass, J., Sugiyama, L., & Pontzer, H. (2019) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.23223 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Self-citationAgarwal, S. C. (2021) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.23647 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
“Tools such as quantitative ultrasonography (qUS) also offer a portable alternative to absorptiometry that allows the assessment of bone quality along with bone density in remote settings such as rural populations (Knapp, 2009; Lee et al., 2021; Madimenos et al., 2011; Stieglitz et al., 2016), although there has been s…”
BackgroundResultInfluentialData Analytics in Physical Activity Studies With Accelerometers: Scoping Review
Liang, Y., Wang, C. I., & Hsiao, C. K. (2024) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/59497 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Sarma, M. S., Boyette, A. H., Lew‐Levy, S., Miegakanda, V., Kilius, E., Samson, D. R., & Gettler, L. T. (2020) · American Journal of Physical Anthropology · doi:10.1002/ajpa.24075 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Madimenos, F. C., Snodgrass, J. J., Blackwell, A. D., Liebert, M. A., Cepon‐Robins, T. J., & Sugiyama, L. S. (2011) · Archives of Osteoporosis · doi:10.1007/s11657-011-0056-x · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“Individual and community-level variation in diet, activity levels, and smoking/drinking behaviors have been reported elsewhere for these populations [7, 22] and future research will explore the specific effects of these factors on Shuar and Colono bone health.”
BackgroundSelf-citationSnodgrass, J. J. (2012) · Human Biology · doi:10.1002/9781118108062.ch8 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Self-citationPhysical Inactivity from the Viewpoint of Evolutionary Medicine
Kirchengast, S. (2014) · Sports · doi:10.3390/sports2020034 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
“Kung San in Southern Africa and Shuar, indigenous forager-horticulturalists in Ecuador.”
BackgroundPisor, A. C., Gurven, M., Blackwell, A. D., Kaplan, H. S., & Yetish, G. M. (2013) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.22445 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationSadhir, S., & Pontzer, H. (2023) · Journal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY · doi:10.1186/s40101-023-00318-3 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
“We examined published survey datasets reporting individual women’s fertility and birth outcomes [78–82] across 44 countries and two small-scale, natural fertility populations [78, 80] (Fig.”
BackgroundMadimenos, F. C., Liebert, M. A., Cepon‐Robins, T. J., Urlacher, S. S., Snodgrass, J. J., Sugiyama, L. S., & Stieglitz, J. (2019) · American Journal of Physical Anthropology · doi:10.1002/ajpa.23949 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Self-citationAgeing and physical function in East African foragers and pastoralists
Sayre, M. K., Pontzer, H., Alexander, G. E., Wood, B. M., Pike, I. L., Mabulla, A. Z. P., & Raichlen, D. A. (2020) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2019.0608 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Sayre, M. K., Pike, I. L., & Raichlen, D. A. (2018) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.23205 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“…measure of activity levels, and indicate that individuals living in small-scale societies are more physically active than individuals living in industrialized societies (see Caldwell, 2016; Gurven et al., 2013; Madimenos, Snodgrass, Blackwell, Liebert, & Sugiyama, 2011; Raichlen et al., 2017).”
BackgroundVariation in diurnal cortisol patterns among the Indigenous Shuar of Amazonian Ecuador
Liebert, M. A., Urlacher, S. S., Madimenos, F. C., Gildner, T. E., Cepon‐Robins, T. J., Harrington, C. J., Bribiescas, R. G., Sugiyama, L. S., & Snodgrass, J. J. (2024) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.24056 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Moreover, Shuar residing in communities demonstrate high levels of daily physical activity (Christopher et al., 2019; Madimenos et al., 2011; Urlacher et al., 2019) and consume a diet largely based on low-nutrient carbohydrates such as plantains, sweet manioc, and papaya with some supplementation…”
Self-citationLifestyle and patterns of physical activity in Hadza foragers
Sayre, M. K., Anyawire, M., Paolo, B., Mabulla, A. Z. P., Pontzer, H., Wood, B. M., & Raichlen, D. A. (2023) · American Journal of Biological Anthropology · doi:10.1002/ajpa.24846 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Men are frequently more physically active than women (Christensen et al., 2012; Gurven et al., 2013; Kraft et al., 2021; Madimenos et al., 2011; Sayre et al., 2018) though not always (Raichlen et al., 2017; Sarma et al., 2020; Sayre et al., 2020; Yamauchi et al., 2001).”
Snodgrass, J. J., Liebert, M. A., Cepon‐Robins, T. J., Barrett, T. M., Mathur, A., Chatterji, S., & Kowal, P. R. (2015) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.22803 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“…of decreasing physical activity American Journal of Human Biology levels with advancing age; in many studies, this decline begins in the seventh decade and then accelerates with increasing age (Evenson et al., 2012; Hansen et al., 2012; Marquez et al., 2011; Sun et al., 2013; Troiano et al., 2008).”
BackgroundSelf-citationBone density and frame size in adult women: Effects of body size, habitual use, and life history
Lee, K. M. N., Rogers, M. P., Galbarczyk, A., Grazyna Jasienska, A., & Clancy, K. B. H. (2020) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.23502 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Sadhir, S., McGrosky, A., Ford, L. B., Nzunza, R., Wemanya, S. N., Mashaka, H., Kinyanjui, R. N., Ndiema, E., Braun, D. R., Rosinger, A. Y., et al. (2024) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.24174 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“…proposed for managing the high costs of human pregnancy: (1) metabolic strategies, which involve changes to maternal physiology and energy metabolism, and (2) behavioral strategies, which involves changes to PA and other lifestyle factors and increasing food intake (Madimenos et al. 2011).”
InfluentialBone Loss and Physical Activity - A Bio Anthropological Perspective
Kirchengast, S. (2016) · Journal of Osteoporosis and Physical Activity · doi:10.4172/2329-9509.1000164 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Cepon‐Robins, T. J. (2015) · Scholars' Bank (University of Oregon) · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Mateos, A., Zorrilla‐Revilla, G., & Rodrı́guez, J. (2022) · Human Nature · doi:10.1007/s12110-022-09428-w · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“In contrast, in other populations, such as Amazonian Shuar, males have greater foraging energetic costs than females but both sexes have very high physical activity levels (Christopher et al., 2019; Madimenos et al., 2011).”
BackgroundBaYaka mothers balance childcare and subsistence tasks during collaborative foraging in Congo Basin
Visine, A., Boyette, A. H., Ouamba, Y. R., Lew‐Levy, S., Sarma, M. S., & Jang, H. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-75467-1 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“These results are consistent with the finding that Shuar women maintain their baseline activity levels through increased contributions from family members [42].”
BackgroundResultLevels of Physical Activity in the Adult Population of La Guajira, Colombia: A Focus on Ethnicity
Zoppola, Y. P.-D., Niño-Restrepo, J., Melo-Freile, J., & Ortiz-Moncada, R. (2021) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.610679 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“In both of these cases however, the physical activity levels could be explained by the assimilation of these communities into salaried jobs, an increase in subsistence activities and the market economy (22, 23).”
BackgroundPatterns of physical activity in hunter-gatherer children compared with US and UK children
Kretschmer, L., Dyble, M., Chaudhary, N., Bann, D., & Salalι, G. D. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-81326-w · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Urlacher, S. S., Gildner, T. E., & Sugiyama, L. S. (2026) · American Journal of Human Biology · doi:10.1002/ajhb.70207 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationAccelerometers as a Methodological Tool in Group Processes Research
Munsch, C. L., & Zack, E. S. (2018) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s0882-614520180000035002 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Phylogeny and Life History Patterns
Caldwell, A. E. (2016) · SpringerBriefs in anthropology · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30409-0_3 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Sadhir, S., & Pontzer, H. (2023) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.22605473
- Authors
- Madimenos, F. C., Snodgrass, J. J., Blackwell, A. D., Liebert, M. A., & Sugiyama, L. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Oregon (US)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- Corresponding author
- Madimenos, Felicia C.
- ORCID
- Venue
- American Journal of Human Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-04-27
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 488-497
- ISSN
- 1042-0533 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-6300
- PMC
- PMC3110644
- OpenAlex
- W2105778580
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 77
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- American Journal of Human Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (DP1OD000516)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Indigenous Health and Education
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- physical activity, Shuar, accelerometry, physical activity energy expenditure, sex differences, reproductive status, pregnancy, lactation, market integration, subsistence, energy expenditure, obesity
- MeSH terms
- Acceleration, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Agriculture, Anthropology, Cultural, Basal Metabolism, Ecuador, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Sex Factors, Confidence Intervals, Population Groups, Young Adult
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