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Cited by 46Physical Activity and HealthContext-Aware Activity Recognition SystemsBalance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Effects of Body Mass Index and Step Rate on Pedometer Error in a Free-Living Environment

TYO, BRIAN M., FITZHUGH, EUGENE C., BASSETT, DAVID R., JOHN, DINESH, FEITO, YURI, THOMPSON, DIXIE L.·2011·Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
DOI 10.1249/mss.0b013e3181e9b133
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Abstract

UNLABELLED: Pedometers could provide great insights into walking habits if they are found to be accurate for people of all weight categories. PURPOSE: the purposes of this study were to determine whether the New Lifestyles NL-2000 (NL) and the Digi-Walker SW-200 (DW) yield similar daily step counts as compared with the StepWatch 3 (SW) in a free-living environment and to determine whether pedometer error is influenced by body mass index (BMI) and speed of walking. The SW served as the criterion because of its accuracy across a range of speeds and BMI categories. Slow walking was defined as ≤80 steps per minute. METHODS: fifty-six adults (mean ± SD: age = 32.7 ± 14.5 yr) wore the devices for 7 d. There were 20 normal weight, 18 overweight, and 18 obese participants. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was performed to determine whether BMI and device were related to number of steps counted per day. Stepwise linear regressions were performed to determine what variables contributed to NL and DW error. RESULTS: both the NL and the DW recorded fewer steps than the SW (P < 0.001). In the normal weight and overweight groups, error was similar for the DW and NL. In the obese group, the DW underestimated steps more than the NL (P < 0.01). DW error was positively related to BMI and percentage of slow steps, whereas NL error was linearly related to percentage of slow steps. A surprising finding was that many healthy, community-dwelling adults accumulated a large percentage of steps through slow walking. CONCLUSIONS: the NL is more accurate than the DW for obese individuals, and neither pedometer is accurate for people who walk slowly. Researchers and practitioners must weigh the strengths and limitations of step counters before making an informed decision about which device to use.

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Crossref · 10.1249/mss.0b013e3181e9b133

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  • The Omron pocket step counter fails to detect steps taken in brief walking bouts because of a 4-s filter.

    “Also, in the case of the Omron, steps taken in brief walking bouts go undetected because of the presence of a 4-s filter [20].”

    From Step Counting: A Review of Measurement Considerations and Health-Related Applications (2017) · cites this paper as [20]

  • The Omron HJ720 gives lower step counts than other pedometers because its 4-s filter results in failure to record steps during intermittent, lifestyle activities.

    “This is one reason why the Omron HJ720 gives lower step counts than other pedometers, because it has a 4-s filter that results in failure to record steps during intermittent, lifestyle activities.”

    From Step Counting: A Review of Measurement Considerations and Health-Related Applications (2017) · cites this paper as [20]

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Authors
TYO, B. M., FITZHUGH, E. C., BASSETT, D. R., JOHN, D., FEITO, Y., & THOMPSON, D. L.
Affiliations
University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
ORCID
Venue
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2011-02
Volume
43
Issue
2
Pages
350-356
ISSN
0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1249/mss.0b013e3181e9b133
OpenAlex
W2073763146
Cited by
46
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 8
FWCI
3.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CSU ePress (Columbus State University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Context-Aware Activity Recognition Systems
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
Keywords
pedometers, step count accuracy, body mass index, obesity, overweight, walking speed, slow walking, cadence, free-living physical activity
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Body Weight, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Body Mass Index, Walking, Monitoring, Ambulatory, Sports Equipment, Young Adult

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