For non-exercising people, the number of steps walked is more strongly associated with health than time spent walking
For non-exercising people, the number of steps walked is more strongly associated with health than time spent walking
Objective: This study examined the associations between walking (number of steps and minutes spent) and seven health indicators, including chronic health conditions, depressive symptoms, and blood pressure, among nonexercising people who did not regularly engage in any non-walking moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in Hong Kong. Design: Under the FAMILY project, the number of steps per day and minutes spent walking were measured using an accelerometer. Participants (n= 2417) whose only form of physical activity was walking were included in the present analysis. Methods: Three indicators of walking (number of steps, minutes spent walking at moderate intensity, and minutes spent walking at light intensity) was measured by accelerometer. Associations between these indicators and seven health conditions were measured by the difference in z scores for those with, and those without, each health condition, adjusted for age and sex. Results: The number of steps per day was significantly and inversely associated with hypertension (difference in z= -0.22, p< 0.01), cancer (difference in z= -0.43, p< 0.05), stroke (difference in z= -0.63, p< 0.01), depressive symptoms (difference in z= -0.15, p< 0.01), health-related quality-of-life (difference in z= -0.13, p< 0.05), and pulse rate (difference in z= -0.11, p< 0.01). By contrast, time spent walking as measured by accelerometer was associated only with a single health indicator (hypertension, difference in z= -0.14, p< 0.05). Conclusions: Even among non-exercising people, accumulating number of steps appears to be related to fewer health problems and should be promoted as an accessible form of exercise, especially for those who lack the time or ability to engage in physical activity of at least moderate intensity.
Accelerometer, Chronic disease, Exercise, Motor activity, Sedentary lifestyle
227-230
Lee, Paul H.
02620eab-ae7f-4a1c-bad1-8a50e7e48951
Nan, Hairong
eccfca82-c536-4933-8d46-240db513ab28
Yu, Ying Ying
3ab8a0fe-8340-4f54-8a0b-14dbb402c7fd
McDowell, Ian
d45606ed-356e-4ab0-9611-a106f332959e
Leung, Gabriel M.
05520107-4b1b-4adf-a291-20f4d8941219
Lam, T. H.
342e044c-2bbc-413c-b3fb-ad2c399b5fb7
May 2013
Lee, Paul H.
02620eab-ae7f-4a1c-bad1-8a50e7e48951
Nan, Hairong
eccfca82-c536-4933-8d46-240db513ab28
Yu, Ying Ying
3ab8a0fe-8340-4f54-8a0b-14dbb402c7fd
McDowell, Ian
d45606ed-356e-4ab0-9611-a106f332959e
Leung, Gabriel M.
05520107-4b1b-4adf-a291-20f4d8941219
Lam, T. H.
342e044c-2bbc-413c-b3fb-ad2c399b5fb7
Lee, Paul H., Nan, Hairong, Yu, Ying Ying, McDowell, Ian, Leung, Gabriel M. and Lam, T. H.
(2013)
For non-exercising people, the number of steps walked is more strongly associated with health than time spent walking.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 16 (3), .
(doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2012.10.005).
Abstract
Objective: This study examined the associations between walking (number of steps and minutes spent) and seven health indicators, including chronic health conditions, depressive symptoms, and blood pressure, among nonexercising people who did not regularly engage in any non-walking moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in Hong Kong. Design: Under the FAMILY project, the number of steps per day and minutes spent walking were measured using an accelerometer. Participants (n= 2417) whose only form of physical activity was walking were included in the present analysis. Methods: Three indicators of walking (number of steps, minutes spent walking at moderate intensity, and minutes spent walking at light intensity) was measured by accelerometer. Associations between these indicators and seven health conditions were measured by the difference in z scores for those with, and those without, each health condition, adjusted for age and sex. Results: The number of steps per day was significantly and inversely associated with hypertension (difference in z= -0.22, p< 0.01), cancer (difference in z= -0.43, p< 0.05), stroke (difference in z= -0.63, p< 0.01), depressive symptoms (difference in z= -0.15, p< 0.01), health-related quality-of-life (difference in z= -0.13, p< 0.05), and pulse rate (difference in z= -0.11, p< 0.01). By contrast, time spent walking as measured by accelerometer was associated only with a single health indicator (hypertension, difference in z= -0.14, p< 0.05). Conclusions: Even among non-exercising people, accumulating number of steps appears to be related to fewer health problems and should be promoted as an accessible form of exercise, especially for those who lack the time or ability to engage in physical activity of at least moderate intensity.
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Published date: May 2013
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This study was a part of the project “FAMILY: a Jockey Club Initiative for a Harmonious Society” supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust . The funding body played no part in the data analysis, paper writing, or the decision to submit for publication. We sincerely thank Dr. Wilson W. S. Tam, Dr. Ben K. K. Li, and Mr. Paul T. K. Wong (School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong) for their contributions to the Cohort Study.
Keywords:
Accelerometer, Chronic disease, Exercise, Motor activity, Sedentary lifestyle
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 480705
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/480705
ISSN: 1440-2440
PURE UUID: 5d2e0a15-24e0-4b57-9007-082e70ae167f
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Date deposited: 08 Aug 2023 16:53
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:09
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Contributors
Author:
Paul H. Lee
Author:
Hairong Nan
Author:
Ying Ying Yu
Author:
Ian McDowell
Author:
Gabriel M. Leung
Author:
T. H. Lam
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