The Global Physical Activity Dataset Catalogue (GPAD)

A repository of accelerometer measured physical activity datasets that include markers of cardiometabolic health. A total of 122 datasets were included from 49 countries across the world.

We systematically reviewed the literature to identify studies that analysed datasets of physical activity and cardiometabolic health outcomes. To be eligible for inclusion we set the following criteria:

  • measured physical activity using an accelerometric device in adults aged ≥18 years;
  • a sample size >400 participants (unless recruited participants in a low- and middle-income country where a minimum sample size threshold was reduced to 100);
  • an observational, longitudinal, or trial-based study design;
  • collected at least 1 cardiometabolic health marker

A total of 16,720 study reports were identified. After screening, 319 were eligible, with 122 unique data sets in these study reports meeting the review inclusion criteria. Data sets were found in 49 countries across five continents, with the most developed in Europe (n=53) and the least in Africa and Oceania (n=4 and n=3, respectively). The GPAD catalogue is a web-based open-source resource developed from the results of this review, which aims to facilitate the harmonization of data sets to produce evidence that will reduce the burden of disease from physical inactivity.

Visit the GPAD website

What next

We plan to update the GPAD catalogue resource periodically (at least once per year) to include new data sets as they become publicly available. Furthermore, on the release of the resource, an email will be sent to the primary investigators on each data set to make them aware of the resource and to encourage them to inform us if their data set contains variables currently omitted from the resource.

Citation details

Thomas JJC, Daley A, Esliger D, Kettle V, Coombe A, Stamatakis E, Sanders J. Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity Data Sets (Global Physical Activity Data Set Catalogue) That Include Markers of Cardiometabolic Health: Systematic Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res. 2023. DOI: 10.2196/45599

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Professorship award for Amanda Daley. This research was supported by the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre.

Find out more about our work in technology and the measurement of health

Our researchers

Jonah Thomas

Jonah Thomas

Doctorate Student, Snacktivity programme

James Sanders

Dr James Sanders

Senior Research Associate, Snacktivity programme

Dale Esliger

Dr Dale Esliger

Reader in Digital Health

Amanda Daley

Professor Amanda Daley

Professor of Behavioural Medicine, Centre Director