We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Kids are not little adults: what MET threshold captures sedentary behavior in children?
- Authors
Saint-Maurice, Pedro; Kim, Youngwon; Welk, Gregory; Gaesser, Glenn; Saint-Maurice, Pedro F; Welk, Gregory J; Gaesser, Glenn A
- Abstract
<bold>Purpose: </bold>The study compares MET-defined cutpoints used to classify sedentary behaviors in children using a simulated free-living design.<bold>Methods: </bold>A sample of 102 children (54 boys and 48 girls; 7-13 years) completed a set of 12 activities (randomly selected from a pool of 24 activities) in a random order. Activities were predetermined and ranged from sedentary to vigorous intensities. Participant's energy expenditure was measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system, Oxycon mobile. Measured minute-by-minute VO2 values (i.e., ml/kg/min) were converted to an adult- or child-MET value using the standard 3.5 ml/kg/min or the estimated child resting metabolic rate, respectively. Classification agreement was examined for both the "standard" (1.5 adult-METs) and an "adjusted" (2.0 adult-METs) MET-derived threshold for classifying sedentary behavior. Alternatively, we also tested the classification accuracy of a 1.5 child-MET threshold. Classification accuracy of sedentary activities was evaluated relative to the predetermined intensity categorization using receiver operator characteristic curves.<bold>Results: </bold>There were clear improvements in the classification accuracy for sedentary activities when a threshold of 2.0 adult-METs was used instead of 1.5 METs (Se1.5 METs = 4.7%, Sp1.5 METs = 100.0%; Se2.0 METs = 36.9%, Sp2.0 METs = 100.0 %). The use of child-METs while maintaining the 1.5 threshold also resulted in improvements in classification (Se = 45.1%, Sp = 100.0%).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Adult-MET thresholds are not appropriate for children when classifying sedentary activities. Classification accuracy for identifying sedentary activities was improved when either an adult-MET of 2.0 or a child-MET of 1.5 was used.
- Subjects
SEDENTARY behavior in children; METABOLIC equivalent; CONFIDENCE intervals; SENSITIVITY &; specificity (Statistics); RECEIVER operating characteristic curves; INTRACLASS correlation; CALORIC expenditure; SAMPLE size (Statistics); BASAL metabolism; AGE distribution; CALORIMETRY; CHILD behavior; COMPARATIVE studies; ENERGY metabolism; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; MOTOR ability; RESEARCH; TEENAGERS' conduct of life; EVALUATION research; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; OXYGEN consumption; SEDENTARY lifestyles; PHYSIOLOGY
- Publication
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2016, Vol 116, Issue 1, p29
- ISSN
1439-6319
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00421-015-3238-1