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. 2017 Jan;20(1):55-59.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.04.010. Epub 2016 May 6.

Validation of the SenseWear Mini activity monitor in 5-12-year-old children

Christiana M T van Loo  1 , Anthony D Okely  2 , Marijka J Batterham  3 , Trina Hinkley  4 , Ulf Ekelund  5 , Søren Brage  6 , John J Reilly  7 , Gregory E Peoples  8 , Rachel A Jones  2 , Xanne Janssen  7 , Dylan P Cliff  2
Affiliations

Validation of the SenseWear Mini activity monitor in 5-12-year-old children

Christiana M T van Loo et al. J Sci Med Sport. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to validate SenseWear Mini software algorithm versions 2.2 (SW2.2) and 5.2 (SW5.2) for estimating energy expenditure (EE) in children.

Design: Laboratory-based validation study.

Methods: 57 children aged 5-12 y completed a protocol involving 15 semi-structured sedentary (SED), light-intensity (LPA), and moderate- to vigorous-intensity (MVPA) physical activities. EE was estimated using portable indirect calorimetry (IC). The accuracy of EE estimates (kcal·min-1) from SW2.2 and SW5.2 were examined at the group level and individual level using the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), Bland-Altman plots and equivalence testing.

Results: MAPE values were lower for SW5.2 (30.1±10.7%) than for SW2.2 (44.0±6.2%). Although mean differences for SW5.2 were smaller than for SW2.2 during SED (-0.23±0.22 vs. -0.61±0.20kcal·min-1), LPA (-0.69±0.76 vs. -1.07±0.46kcal·min-1) and MVPA (-2.22±1.15 vs. -2.57±1.15kcal·min-1), limits of agreement did not decrease for the updated algorithms. For all activities, SW2.2 and SW5.2 were not equivalent to IC (p>0.05). Errors increased with increasing intensity.

Conclusion: The current SenseWear Mini algorithms SW5.2 underestimated EE. The overall improved accuracy for SW5.2 was not accompanied with improved accuracy at the individual level and EE estimates were not equivalent to IC.

Keywords: Accelerometry; Calorimetry; Energy expenditure; Physical activity; Validation study.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean absolute percentage error of algorithms version 2.2 (SW2.2) and 5.2 (SW5.2) relative to the criterion measure portable indirect calorimetry across all the activities.
Figure 2
Figure 2
95% equivalence test for logarithmically transformed energy expenditure data across sedentary (SED), light- (LPA) and moderate- to vigorous-intensity (MVPA) physical activities. Methods are equivalent if 90% confidence intervals lie entirely within the equivalence region of IC. *IC, indirect calorimetry; SW2.2, algorithms version 2.2; SW5.2, algorithms version 5.2.
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