Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives To examine the associations of accelerometer-measured daily step counts and intensity with overweightness/obesity among older Chinese women. Methods Data were collected from 1,085 women in the Physical Activity and Health in Older Women Study (PAHIOWS) in China. Multiple linear r...

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Main Authors: Qinmei Wu, Shuting Yin, Litao Du, Ting Li, Xiaoyu Ren, Qiang He, Yang Pan, Si Chen, Xianliang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23089-1
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author Qinmei Wu
Shuting Yin
Litao Du
Ting Li
Xiaoyu Ren
Qiang He
Yang Pan
Si Chen
Xianliang Zhang
author_facet Qinmei Wu
Shuting Yin
Litao Du
Ting Li
Xiaoyu Ren
Qiang He
Yang Pan
Si Chen
Xianliang Zhang
author_sort Qinmei Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives To examine the associations of accelerometer-measured daily step counts and intensity with overweightness/obesity among older Chinese women. Methods Data were collected from 1,085 women in the Physical Activity and Health in Older Women Study (PAHIOWS) in China. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the association of total daily step counts, peak cadence and their joint association with overweightness/obesity indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of daily steps and peak cadence for distinguishing overweightness/obesity. Results Daily step counts, cadence or intensity were independently associated with lower overweightness/obesity indicators. Each 1,000 step increase in daily step counts was associated with lower body fat ratio (BFR) (β: -0.22, 95%CI: -0.40, -0.04, P = 0.02) although not associated with body mass index (BMI) (β: -0.09, 95%CI: -0.19, 0.01, P = 0.07). Each 1 steps/min increase in peak 1 cadence and peak 30 cadence was associated with a lower BFR (β: -0.09, 95%CI: -0.12, -0.06, P<0.01; β: -0.08, 95%CI: -0.11, -0.05, P<0.01). The high step and intensity group was most associated with lower overweightness/obesity indicators. ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut-off points of daily step count, peak 1 cadence and peak 30 cadence for predicting overweightness/obesity were 9,135 steps, 126.9 steps/min and 89.0 steps/min, respectively. Conclusion Higher daily step counts and intensity appear associated with a lower risk of obesity, although daily step counts is not associated with BMI. For women aged 60–70, aiming for over 9,135 steps/day is suggested. Adjusting step counts and intensity according to individual circumstances is advisable.
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spelling doaj-art-4fbee481a63246f6afd0cc27e431f5142025-08-20T02:03:34ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-23089-1Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional studyQinmei Wu0Shuting Yin1Litao Du2Ting Li3Xiaoyu Ren4Qiang He5Yang Pan6Si Chen7Xianliang Zhang8School of Physical Education, Shandong UniversitySchool of Physical Education, Shandong UniversitySchool of Physical Education, Shandong UniversitySchool of Physical Education, Shandong UniversitySchool of Physical Education, Shandong UniversitySchool of Physical Education, Shandong UniversitySchool of Physical Education, Shandong UniversitySchool of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong UniversitySchool of Physical Education, Shandong UniversityAbstract Objectives To examine the associations of accelerometer-measured daily step counts and intensity with overweightness/obesity among older Chinese women. Methods Data were collected from 1,085 women in the Physical Activity and Health in Older Women Study (PAHIOWS) in China. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the association of total daily step counts, peak cadence and their joint association with overweightness/obesity indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of daily steps and peak cadence for distinguishing overweightness/obesity. Results Daily step counts, cadence or intensity were independently associated with lower overweightness/obesity indicators. Each 1,000 step increase in daily step counts was associated with lower body fat ratio (BFR) (β: -0.22, 95%CI: -0.40, -0.04, P = 0.02) although not associated with body mass index (BMI) (β: -0.09, 95%CI: -0.19, 0.01, P = 0.07). Each 1 steps/min increase in peak 1 cadence and peak 30 cadence was associated with a lower BFR (β: -0.09, 95%CI: -0.12, -0.06, P<0.01; β: -0.08, 95%CI: -0.11, -0.05, P<0.01). The high step and intensity group was most associated with lower overweightness/obesity indicators. ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut-off points of daily step count, peak 1 cadence and peak 30 cadence for predicting overweightness/obesity were 9,135 steps, 126.9 steps/min and 89.0 steps/min, respectively. Conclusion Higher daily step counts and intensity appear associated with a lower risk of obesity, although daily step counts is not associated with BMI. For women aged 60–70, aiming for over 9,135 steps/day is suggested. Adjusting step counts and intensity according to individual circumstances is advisable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23089-1Daily step countsStep intensityPeak CadenceOlder womenOverweightness/obesity
spellingShingle Qinmei Wu
Shuting Yin
Litao Du
Ting Li
Xiaoyu Ren
Qiang He
Yang Pan
Si Chen
Xianliang Zhang
Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional study
BMC Public Health
Daily step counts
Step intensity
Peak Cadence
Older women
Overweightness/obesity
title Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional study
title_full Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional study
title_short Association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older Chinese women: a cross-sectional study
title_sort association of daily step counts and intensity in obesity among older chinese women a cross sectional study
topic Daily step counts
Step intensity
Peak Cadence
Older women
Overweightness/obesity
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23089-1
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