Step-Based Metrics and Translations of Physical Activity Guidelines among Adults in the HCHS/SOL

Purpose In a cross-sectional sample of US Hispanic/Latino adults, we aimed to describe step-based metric distributions, estimate their associations with activity counts and self-report, and calibrate step-based translations of current (2018) US physical activity (PA) guidelines, that is, ≥150 min·wk-1 moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) from accelerometer counts and self-report. Methods The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos enrolled 16,415 Hispanic/Latino adults 18-74 yr from four US cities (2008-2011). Participants completed the Global PA Questionnaire and 1 wk of Actical accelerometer wear (n = 12,528). Weighted medians were used to describe step-based metrics, and Spearman correlations estimated their relationships with count-based and self-reported PA indicators. Receiver operator characteristic curve analyses were used to examine the ability of each step-based metric to classify participants meeting PA guidelines. Results Overall, US Hispanic/Latino adults accumulated medians of 6770 steps per day and 6, 18, 236, and 630 min·d-1 at ≥100, ≥70, 1-69, and 0 steps per minute, respectively. Count-based time in MVPA, light PA, and sedentary behavior were most strongly correlated (rs = 0.79-0.85) with times ≥70, 1-69, and 0 steps per minute, respectively, whereas self-reported MVPA had similar correlations with steps per day and times ≥40 and ≥70 steps per minute (rs = 0.28-0.29). Time ≥70 steps per minute had the greatest capacity to classify participants meeting PA guidelines with both measures of MVPA. Conclusions This study provides the first normative values (based on percentiles) of step-based metrics for US Hispanic/Latino adults, which can facilitate surveillance, program planning, research, and data interpretation. Our finding that PA guidelines corresponded to 6000-7000 steps per day or ∼20 min·d-1 at ≥70 steps per minute with an Actical accelerometer can be considered alongside dose-response relationships with health outcomes to develop step-based recommendations that are consistent with and better communicate PA guidelines.