Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) Study
BackgroundWearable activity monitors are increasingly used to characterize physical behavior. The development and validation of these characterization methods require criterion-labeled data typically collected in a laboratory or simulated free-living environment, which does n...
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JMIR Publications
2025-04-01
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| author | Samuel Robert LaMunion Paul Robert Hibbing Scott Edward Crouter |
| author_facet | Samuel Robert LaMunion Paul Robert Hibbing Scott Edward Crouter |
| author_sort | Samuel Robert LaMunion |
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BackgroundWearable activity monitors are increasingly used to characterize physical behavior. The development and validation of these characterization methods require criterion-labeled data typically collected in a laboratory or simulated free-living environment, which does not generally translate well to free-living due to limited behavior engagement in development that is not representative of free living.
ObjectiveThe Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) study was designed in 2 parts to establish a criterion dataset for novel method development for identifying periods of transition between activities in youth.
MethodsThe FLPAY study used criterion measures of behavior (direct observation) and energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry) to label data from research-grade accelerometer-based devices for the purpose of developing and cross-validating models to identify transitions, classify activity type, and estimate energy expenditure in youth aged 6-18 years. The first part of this study was a simulated free-living protocol in the laboratory, comprising short (roughly 60-90 s) and long (roughly 4-5 min) bouts of 16 activities that were completed in various orders over the span of 2 visits. The second part of this study involved an independent sample of participants who agreed to be measured twice (2 hours each time) in free-living environments such as the home and community.
ResultsThe FLPAY study was funded from 2016 to 2020. A no-cost extension was granted for 2021. A few secondary outcomes have been published, but extensive analysis of primary data is ongoing.
ConclusionsThe 2-part design of the FLPAY study emphasized the collection of naturalistic behaviors and periods of transition between activities in both structured and unstructured environments. This filled an important gap, considering the traditional focus on scripted activity routines in structured laboratory environments. This protocol paper details the FLPAY procedures and participants, along with details about criterion datasets, which will be useful in future studies analyzing the wealth of device-based data in diverse ways.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/65968 |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj-art-cdcdc5cb34734aeea178b141df9e582c2025-08-20T03:18:43ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482025-04-0114e6596810.2196/65968Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) StudySamuel Robert LaMunionhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7290-5189Paul Robert Hibbinghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1469-5160Scott Edward Crouterhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-9538 BackgroundWearable activity monitors are increasingly used to characterize physical behavior. The development and validation of these characterization methods require criterion-labeled data typically collected in a laboratory or simulated free-living environment, which does not generally translate well to free-living due to limited behavior engagement in development that is not representative of free living. ObjectiveThe Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) study was designed in 2 parts to establish a criterion dataset for novel method development for identifying periods of transition between activities in youth. MethodsThe FLPAY study used criterion measures of behavior (direct observation) and energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry) to label data from research-grade accelerometer-based devices for the purpose of developing and cross-validating models to identify transitions, classify activity type, and estimate energy expenditure in youth aged 6-18 years. The first part of this study was a simulated free-living protocol in the laboratory, comprising short (roughly 60-90 s) and long (roughly 4-5 min) bouts of 16 activities that were completed in various orders over the span of 2 visits. The second part of this study involved an independent sample of participants who agreed to be measured twice (2 hours each time) in free-living environments such as the home and community. ResultsThe FLPAY study was funded from 2016 to 2020. A no-cost extension was granted for 2021. A few secondary outcomes have been published, but extensive analysis of primary data is ongoing. ConclusionsThe 2-part design of the FLPAY study emphasized the collection of naturalistic behaviors and periods of transition between activities in both structured and unstructured environments. This filled an important gap, considering the traditional focus on scripted activity routines in structured laboratory environments. This protocol paper details the FLPAY procedures and participants, along with details about criterion datasets, which will be useful in future studies analyzing the wealth of device-based data in diverse ways. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/65968https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e65968 |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Robert LaMunion Paul Robert Hibbing Scott Edward Crouter Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) Study JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) Study |
| title_full | Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) Study |
| title_fullStr | Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) Study |
| title_short | Calibration and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Physical Behavior Characterization: Protocol and Methods for the Free-Living Physical Activity in Youth (FLPAY) Study |
| title_sort | calibration and validation of machine learning models for physical behavior characterization protocol and methods for the free living physical activity in youth flpay study |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e65968 |
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