Statistical Considerations in the Analysis of Accelerometry-Based Activity Monitor Data

STAUDENMAYER, J., W. ZHU, and D. J. CATELLIER. Statistical Considerations in the Analysis of Accelerometry-Based Activity Monitor Data. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 44, No. 1S, pp. S61-S67, 2012. We review and discuss three statistical aspects of accelerometer-based estimates of physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE): 1) the nature of the relationship between accelerometer output and PAEE; 2) statistical aspects of calibration studies; and 3) two specialized statistical methods that are applicable to the problem of measurement error modeling and missing data methods. We call for a continuing development of statistical methods that use more characteristics of the accelerometer signal to estimate PAEE, advocate the use of bias and SE statistics and inclusion of cross-validation in accelerometer research designs, and encourage more efforts to understand systematic and random errors in accelerometer-based estimates of PAEE.