title: Steps that count: the association between the number and intensity of steps accumulated and fitness and health measures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pedometer-based recommendations for accumulating steps/d largely focus on volume, with less emphasis on intensity and fitness/health outcomes. We aim to examine this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample (N = 70, 35 men, 32 ± 8yrs) wore a pedometer (4 days). The pedometer classified steps as "aerobic" (≥ 60 steps/minute, minimum duration of 1 minute) or "non-aerobic" (< 60 steps/minute and/or < 1 minute). Estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), derived from a 12-minute submaximal step-test, and health outcomes: blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat (%BF), and waist circumference (WC) were correlated with pedometer data. Participants were grouped according to number and intensity of steps: LOW (< 5000 steps/d), HIGH-LOW (≥ 5000 steps/d, no aerobic steps), HIGH-HIGH (≥ 5000 steps/d, including some aerobic steps). Analyses of covariance, adjusting for age, gender, and total steps/d were used to compare groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average steps/d was 6520 ± 2306. Total steps/d and total time spent accumulating "aerobic" steps (minutes/day) were inversely associated with %BF, BMI, WC, and systolic BP (P < .05). After adjusting for gender and total steps/d, %BF was different between all 3 groups, VO2max was different between the LOW and HIGH-HIGH groups, WC was lower in the HIGH-HIGH versus the other 2 groups (P < .03, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intensity seems an important factor to consider in steps/d cut-points.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Basic Medical Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
authors.forename: Julian David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: Tracy Lynn
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kolbe-Alexander
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Mechelen
authors.forename: Estelle Victoria
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055105:Waist Circumference; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult