BACKGROUND: Environmental factors including seasonal changes are important to guide physical activity (PA) programs to achieve or sustain weight loss. The goal was to determine seasonal variability in the amount and patterns of free-living PA in women. METHODS: PA was measured in 57 healthy women from metropolitan Nashville, TN, and surrounding counties (age: 20 to 54 years, body mass index: 17 to 48 kg/m2) using an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days during 3 seasons within 1 year. PA counts and energy expenditure (EE) were measured in a whole-room indirect calorimeter and used to model accelerometer output and to calculate daily EE and intensity of PA expressed as metabolic equivalents (METs). RESULTS: PA was lower in winter than in summer (131+/-45 vs. 144+/-54x10(3) counts/d; P=.025) and in spring/fall (143+/-48x10(3) counts/d; P=.027). On weekends, PA was lower in winter than in summer by 22,652 counts/d (P=.008). In winter, women spent more time in sedentary activities than in summer (difference 35 min/d; P=.007) and less time in light activities (difference -29 min/d, P=.018) and moderate or vigorous activities (difference -6 min/d, P=.051). CONCLUSIONS: Women living in the southeastern United States had lower PA levels in winter compared with summer and spring/fall, and the magnitude of this effect was greater on weekends than weekdays.
BACKGROUND: Environmental factors including seasonal changes are important to guide physical activity (PA) programs to achieve or sustain weight loss. The goal was to determine seasonal variability in the amount and patterns of free-living PA in women. METHODS: PA was measured in 57 healthy women from metropolitan Nashville, TN, and surrounding counties (age: 20 to 54 years, body mass index: 17 to 48 kg/m2) using an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days during 3 seasons within 1 year. PA counts and energy expenditure (EE) were measured in a whole-room indirect calorimeter and used to model accelerometer output and to calculate daily EE and intensity of PA expressed as metabolic equivalents (METs). RESULTS: PA was lower in winter than in summer (131+/-45 vs. 144+/-54x10(3) counts/d; P=.025) and in spring/fall (143+/-48x10(3) counts/d; P=.027). On weekends, PA was lower in winter than in summer by 22,652 counts/d (P=.008). In winter, women spent more time in sedentary activities than in summer (difference 35 min/d; P=.007) and less time in light activities (difference -29 min/d, P=.018) and moderate or vigorous activities (difference -6 min/d, P=.051). CONCLUSIONS:Women living in the southeastern United States had lower PA levels in winter compared with summer and spring/fall, and the magnitude of this effect was greater on weekends than weekdays.
Authors: Charles E Matthews; Kong Y Chen; Patty S Freedson; Maciej S Buchowski; Bettina M Beech; Russell R Pate; Richard P Troiano Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2008-02-25 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Tricia Peters; Soren Brage; Kate Westgate; Paul W Franks; Anna Gradmark; Maria Jose Tormo Diaz; Jose Maria Huerta; Benedetta Bendinelli; Mattheaus Vigl; Heiner Boeing; Wanda Wendel-Vos; Annemieke Spijkerman; Kristin Benjaminsen-Borch; Elisavet Valanou; Blandine de Lauzon Guillain; Françoise Clavel-Chapelon; Stephen Sharp; Nicola Kerrison; Claudia Langenberg; Larraitz Arriola; Aurelio Barricarte; Carlos Gonzales; Sara Grioni; Rudolf Kaaks; Timothy Key; Kay Tee Khaw; Anne May; Peter Nilsson; Teresa Norat; Kim Overvad; Domenico Palli; Salvatore Panico; Jose Ramón Quirós; Fulvio Ricceri; Maria-Jose Sanchez; Nadia Slimani; Anne Tjonneland; Rosario Tumino; Edith Feskins; Elio Riboli; Ulf Ekelund; Nick Wareham Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2011-11-17 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Ty Ferguson; Rachel Curtis; Francois Fraysse; Rajini Lagiseti; Celine Northcott; Rosa Virgara; Amanda Watson; Carol A Maher Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-07-13 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Olli Tikkanen; Piia Haakana; Arto J Pesola; Keijo Häkkinen; Timo Rantalainen; Marko Havu; Teemu Pullinen; Taija Finni Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-01-18 Impact factor: 3.240