Using wearable fitness trackers to measure activity and sleep in children aged 5 to 12.
Validity and Utility of Consumer-based Wearable Fitness Trackers to Monitor Free-Living Physical Activity Energy Expenditure and Sleep in Children 5-12 Years Old
This study is looking at how well fitness trackers can measure how active kids aged 5 to 12 are, how much energy they use, and how well they sleep, to help us understand their health and encourage them to be more active and sleep better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11015888 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how effective consumer-based wearable fitness trackers are in measuring physical activity, energy expenditure, and sleep patterns in children aged 5 to 12 years. The study aims to combine heart rate data with accelerometry to provide accurate assessments of children's daily activities and sleep quality. By utilizing non-invasive technology, the research seeks to validate the use of these devices in a pediatric population, which has been underexplored in previous studies. The findings could help in understanding children's health behaviors and inform interventions to promote physical activity and better sleep.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 5 to 12 years who are willing to wear fitness trackers for monitoring their activity and sleep.
Not a fit: Children with severe medical conditions that limit their physical activity or those who are unable to wear wearable devices may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide parents and healthcare providers with reliable tools to monitor and improve children's physical activity and sleep habits.
How similar studies have performed: While similar studies have validated wearable technology in adults, this research is novel as it focuses specifically on children aged 5 to 12 years.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of South Carolina at Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weaver, Robert G — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Weaver, Robert G
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.