Comparison of Summer and Winter Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults: Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study

Nanna Yr Arnardottir, Nina Dora Oskarsdottir, Robert J. Brychta, Annemarie Koster, Dane R. Van Domelen, Paolo Caserotti, Gudny Eiriksdottir, Johanna E. Sverrisdottir, Erlingur Johannsson, Lenore J. Launer, Vilmundur Gudnason, Tamara B. Harris, Kong Y. Chen and Thorarinn Sveinsson
Additional contact information
Nanna Yr Arnardottir: Faculty of Education, University of Akureyri, Nordurslod 2, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
Nina Dora Oskarsdottir: Icelandic Heart Association, Holtasmári 1, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland
Robert J. Brychta: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Annemarie Koster: CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Social Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Dane R. Van Domelen: Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Paolo Caserotti: Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
Gudny Eiriksdottir: Icelandic Heart Association, Holtasmári 1, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland
Johanna E. Sverrisdottir: Icelandic Heart Association, Holtasmári 1, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland
Erlingur Johannsson: Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Saemundargata 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
Lenore J. Launer: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Vilmundur Gudnason: Icelandic Heart Association, Holtasmári 1, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland
Tamara B. Harris: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Kong Y. Chen: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Thorarinn Sveinsson: Research Center of Movement Science, University of Iceland, Stapi v/Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: In Iceland, there is a large variation in daylight between summer and winter. The aim of the study was to identify how this large variation influences physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB). Free living PA was measured by a waist-worn accelerometer for one week during waking hours in 138 community-dwelling older adults (61.1% women, 80.3 ± 4.9 years) during summer and winter months. In general, SB occupied about 75% of the registered wear-time and was highly correlated with age (β = 0.36). Although the differences were small, more time was spent during the summer in all PA categories, except for the moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and SB was reduced. More lifestyle PA (LSPA) was accumulated in ≥5-min bouts during summer than winter, especially among highly active participants. This information could be important for policy makers and health professionals working with older adults. Accounting for seasonal difference is necessary in analyzing SB and PA data.

Keywords: seasonal; aging; physical activity; accelerometer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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