Accelerometry Measured Movement Behaviors in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the ELSA-Brasil Study

Background: Little investigation of accelerometry assessed movement behaviors and physical inactivity was carried out in middle-aged and older adults in low-middle-income countries.Objective: Describe accelerometry-measured movement behaviors and prevalence of physical inactivity in middle-aged and older adults.Methods: We collected raw accelerometry data during the third visit (2017-2019) of ELSA-Brasil, a large-scale multicenter Brazilian cohort. Participants wore an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT on the waist for 24 hours for 7 days and documented sleep in a diary.Results: Nine thousand two hundred and seventy-nine participants had valid data (73.4% of the eligible cohort). Overall activity was higher for men (11.82mg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.7 to 11.93) than women (10.69mg; 95% CI, 10.6 to 10.77) and lower in older groups-women (-0.12mg/y; 95% CI, -0.13 to -0.11), men (-0.16mg/y; 95% CI, -0.17 to -0.14). Participants were more active from noon to midnight. Distribution of movement behaviors varied with sex and age, and sleep duration was longer in older individuals. Overall, 14.4% (95% CI, 13.7 to 15.1) were inactive, with inactivity being more frequent in women (16.4%; 95% CI, 15.4 to 17.4) than men (12.2%; 95% CI, 11 to 13). Higher rates were observed in the oldest. Retirement was associated with a higher prevalence of physical inactivity in both sexes.Conclusion: Women were less active than men. Older individuals showed a high prevalence of physical inactivity, probably related to transition into retirement. These findings strengthen evidence for public policies promoting physical activity by emphasizing the need to target women, older individuals, and those transitioning to retirement to improve and/or maintain physical activity levels throughout the course of their lives.

Automated summary

This study investigated movement behaviors and physical inactivity in middle-aged and older adults in low-middle-income countries using accelerometry. The findings showed that women were less active than men, and physical activity decreased with age, especially after retirement. These findings provide evidence for public policies to promote physical activity, emphasizing the need to target women, older individuals, and those transitioning to retirement to improve and/or maintain physical activity throughout their lives.