title: Accelerometer-based physical activity levels among Mexican adults and their relation with sociodemographic characteristics and BMI: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objectives of this study were to describe the accelerometer based total and bout-specific PA levels for a representative sample of adults from Cuernavaca, Mexico, and to examine the relationships with sociodemographic characteristics and BMI status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study of adults from Cuernavaca, Mexico (2011, n = 677). Participants wore Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for seven days and sociodemographic data was collected through a survey. Weight and height were objectively measured. Total minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and of MVPA occurring within bouts of at least ten minutes were obtained. Intensity-specific (moderate and vigorous) total PA and bouted-PA was also obtained. The relation of each PA variable with sex, age, socioeconomic status, education, marital status and BMI status was assessed using unadjusted and adjusted linear models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total MVPA among adults from Cuernavaca was 221.3 ± 10.0 (median = 178.3 min/week). Average MVPA within bouts was 65.8 ± 4.7 min/week (median = 30.0 min/week). 9.7 % of total MVPA occurred within bouts. Significant associations were found for total and bout-specific MVPA with being male (positive) and owning a motor vehicle (negative). Additional associations were found for intensity-specific PA outcomes. Mexican adults were more active during weekdays than weekends, suggesting that PA may be more strongly driven by necessity (transport) than by choice (leisure).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to objectively measure PA for a representative sample of Mexican adults in an urban setting. The sociodemographic correlates vary from those known from high income countries, stressing the need for more correlate studies from lower-to-middle income countries.
authors.affiliation: Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health (Austin regional campus), Austin, TX, USA. deborah.salvo@uth.tmc.edu.|Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. deborah.salvo@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salvo
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. cathytorresc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. umberto.villa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. jrivera@correo.insp.mx.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: Schools of Medicine and Government, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. osarmien@uniandes.edu.co.
authors.forename: Olga L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.affiliation: Research Group of Physical Activity and Quality of Life (GPAQ), School of Health and Biosciences, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. reis.rodrigo@pucpr.br.|Department of Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. reis.rodrigo@pucpr.br.
authors.forename: Rodrigo S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Schools of Medicine and Government, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. michael.pratt@emory.edu.|Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. michael.pratt@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratt
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010067:Ownership; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult