Validation of the TracmorD triaxial accelerometer to assess physical activity in preschool children

Objectives: To assess validity evidence of Tracmor(D) to determine energy used for physical activity in 3-4-year-old children.

Design and Methods: Participants were randomly selected from GECKO Drenthe cohort (n = 30, age 3.4 +/- 0.3 years). Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using the doubly labeled water method. Sleeping metabolic rate (SMR) was measured by indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac). TEE and SMR were used to calculate physical activity level (PAL) and activity energy expenditure (AEE). Physical activity was monitored using a DirectLife triaxial accelerometer, Tracmor(D) with activity counts per minute (ACM) and activity counts per day (ACD) as outcome measures.

Results: The best predictor for PAL was ACM with gender and weight, the best predictor for AEE was ACM alone (backward regression, R-2 = 0.50, P = 0.010 and R-2 = 0.31, P = 0.011, respectively). With ACD, the prediction model for PAL included ACD, height, gender, and sleep duration (R-2 = 0.48, P = 0.033), the prediction model for AEE included ACD, gender and sleep duration (R-2 = 0.39, P = 0.042). The accelerometer was worn for 5 days, but 3 days did not give a different estimated PAL.

Conclusion: Tracmor(D) provides moderate-to-strong validity evidence that supports its use to evaluate energy used for physical activity in 3-4-year-old children.