Linking the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) and the Compendium of Physical Activities: Methods and Rationale

Abstract

Background:The 2003 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey (ATUS) contains 438 distinct primary activity variables that can be analyzed with regard to how time is spent by Americans. The Compendium of Physical Activities is used to code physical activities derived from various surveys, logs, diaries, etc to facilitate comparison of coded intensity levels across studies. Methods: This paper describes the methods, challenges, and rationale for linking Compendium estimates of physical activity intensity (METs, metabolic equivalents) with all activities reported in the 2003 ATUS. Results: The assigned ATUS intensity levels are not intended to compute the energy costs of physical activity in individuals. Instead, they are intended to be used to identify time spent in activities broadly classified by type and intensity. This function will complement public health surveillance systems and aid in policy and health-promotion activities. For example, at least one of the future projects of this process is the descriptive epidemiology of time spent in common physical activity intensity categories. Conclusions: The process of metabolic coding of the ATUS by linking it with the Compendium of Physical Activities can make important contributions to our understanding of Americans' time spent in health-related physical activity.

Trade-Offs Between Commuting Time and Health-Related Activities

“…Few commuters walk or bicycle to work (2.2%) or use public transportation (3.4%), but commuters using alternative modes are clustered among respondents reporting longer commuting times, representing almost a third of respondents spending 180 min or more daily commuting. 20 . The sample is restricted to respondents employed full-time residing in urban counties Table 3 presents adjusted activity means evaluated at half-hour commuting intervals, from 0 to 180 min total daily commuting time.…”

“…Additionally, researchers have constructed MET intensity values for each ATUS activity category. 20 A "MET" (or "metabolic equivalent") is a unit commonly used to gauge the intensity of a physical activity and is roughly defined as the ratio of energy expenditure in an activity to energy expenditure while at rest. A MET value of 3.0 is considered the threshold for moderate intensity.…”

Time Spent in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors on the Working Day

“…18 A MET is a unit of oxygen consumption or the energy demands of activity. At rest, basal metabolism consumes 1 MET or 3.5 mL/kg/minute of oxygen.…”

Can We Make Time for Physical Activity? Simulating Effects of Daily Physical Activity on Mortality

“…The mappings of MET values to activity codes were drawn from the "Compendium of Physical Activities" [31], an approach that was modelled after a similar exercise with the American Time Use Survey [32]. In the present study, 158 different activities could be distinguished in terms of METs, with an additional 50 occupational groups providing different MET values for bouts of "Paid Work".…”