Monitoring Physical Activity Levels Using Twitter Data: Infodemiology Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Social media technology such as Twitter allows users to share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions online. The growing body of social media data is becoming a central part of infodemiology research as these data can be combined with other public health datasets (eg, physical activity levels) to provide real-time monitoring of psychological and behavior outcomes that inform health behaviors. Currently, it is unclear whether Twitter data can be used to monitor physical activity levels. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility of using Twitter data to monitor physical activity levels by assessing whether the frequency and sentiment of physical activity–related tweets were associated with physical activity levels across the United States. METHODS Tweets were collected from Twitter’s application programming interface (API) between January 10, 2017 and January 2, 2018. We used Twitter's garden hose method of collecting tweets, which provided a random sample of approximately 1% of all tweets with location metadata falling within the United States. Geotagged tweets were filtered. A list of physical activity–related hashtags was collected and used to further classify these geolocated tweets. Twitter data were merged with physical activity data collected as part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Multiple linear regression models were fit to assess the relationship between physical activity–related tweets and physical activity levels by county while controlling for population and socioeconomic status measures. RESULTS During the study period, 442,959,789 unique tweets were collected, of which 64,005,336 (14.44%) were geotagged with latitude and longitude coordinates. Aggregated data were obtained for a total of 3138 counties in the United States. The mean county-level percentage of physically active individuals was 74.05% (SD 5.2) and 75.30% (SD 4.96) after adjusting for age. The model showed that the percentage of physical activity–related tweets was significantly associated with physical activity levels (beta=.11; SE 0.2; P<.001) and age-adjusted physical activity (beta=.10; SE 0.20; P<.001) on a county level while adjusting for both Gini index and education level. However, the overall explained variance of the model was low (R2=.11). The sentiment of the physical activity–related tweets was not a significant predictor of physical activity level and age-adjusted physical activity on a county level after including the Gini index and education level in the model (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS Social media data may be a valuable tool for public health organizations to monitor physical activity levels, as it can overcome the time lag in the reporting of physical activity epidemiology data faced by traditional research methods (eg, surveys and observational studies). Consequently, this tool may have the potential to help public health organizations better mobilize and target physical activity interventions.

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Effects of trees, gardens, and nature trails on heat index and child health: design and methods of the Green Schoolyards Project

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-10128-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kevin Lanza ◽

Melody Alcazar ◽

Deanna M. Hoelscher ◽

Harold W. Kohl

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

United States ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Air Temperature ◽

The United States ◽

Heat Index ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Natural Setting ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Nature Trails

Abstract Background Latinx children in the United States are at high risk for nature-deficit disorder, heat-related illness, and physical inactivity. We developed the Green Schoolyards Project to investigate how green features—trees, gardens, and nature trails—in school parks impact heat index (i.e., air temperature and relative humidity) within parks, and physical activity levels and socioemotional well-being of these children. Herein, we present novel methods for a) observing children’s interaction with green features and b) measuring heat index and children’s behaviors in a natural setting, and a selection of baseline results. Methods During two September weeks (high temperature) and one November week (moderate temperature) in 2019, we examined three joint-use elementary school parks in Central Texas, United States, serving predominantly low-income Latinx families. To develop thermal profiles for each park, we installed 10 air temperature/relative humidity sensors per park, selecting sites based on land cover, land use, and even spatial coverage. We measured green features within a geographic information system. In a cross-sectional study, we used an adapted version of System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to assess children’s physical activity levels and interactions with green features. In a cohort study, we equipped 30 3rd and 30 4th grade students per school during recess with accelerometers and Global Positioning System devices, and surveyed these students regarding their connection to nature. Baseline analyses included inverse distance weighting for thermal profiles and summing observed counts of children interacting with trees. Results In September 2019, average daily heat index ranged 2.0 °F among park sites, and maximum daily heat index ranged from 103.4 °F (air temperature = 33.8 °C; relative humidity = 55.2%) under tree canopy to 114.1 °F (air temperature = 37.9 °C; relative humidity = 45.2%) on an unshaded playground. 10.8% more girls and 25.4% more boys interacted with trees in September than in November. Conclusions We found extreme heat conditions at select sites within parks, and children positioning themselves under trees during periods of high heat index. These methods can be used by public health researchers and practitioners to inform the redesign of greenspaces in the face of climate change and health inequities.

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Results from the United States’ 2014 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2014-0184 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (s1) ◽

pp. S105-S112 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Kara N. Dentro ◽

Kim Beals ◽

Scott E. Crouter ◽

Joey C. Eisenmann ◽

Thomas L. McKenzie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

United States ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Comprehensive Evaluation ◽

The United States ◽

Report Card ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Sedentary Behaviors ◽

Physical Activity Levels

Background:The National Physical Activity Plan Alliance partnered with physical activity experts to develop a report card that provides a comprehensive assessment of physical activity among United States children and youth.Methods:The 2014 U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth includes 10 indicators: overall physical activity levels, sedentary behaviors, active transportation, organized sport participation, active play, health-related fitness, family and peers, school, community and the built environment, and government strategies and investments. Data from nationally representative surveys were used to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the physical activity indicators. The Committee used the best available data source to grade the indicators using a standard rubric.Results:Approximately one-quarter of children and youth 6 to 15 years of age were at least moderately active for 60 min/day on at least 5 days per week. The prevalence was lower among youth compared with younger children, resulting in a grade of D- for overall physical activity levels. Five of the remaining 9 indicators received grades ranging from B- to F, whereas there was insufficient data to grade 4 indicators, highlighting the need for more research in some areas.Conclusions:Physical activity levels among U.S. children and youth are low and sedentary behavior is high, suggesting that current infrastructure, policies, programs, and investments in support of children’s physical activity are not sufficient.

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Physical activity levels and differences in the prevalence of diabetes between the United States and Canada☆

Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.02.015 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 50 (5-6) ◽

pp. 241-245 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Xuanping Zhang ◽

Linda S. Geiss ◽

Carl J. Caspersen ◽

Yiling J. Cheng ◽

Michael M. Engelgau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

United States ◽

The United States ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Physical Activity Levels

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A systematic review of physical activity levels in Native American populations in Canada and the United States in the last 50 years

Obesity Reviews ◽

10.1111/obr.12032 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 593-603 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

H. J. A. Foulds ◽

D. E. R. Warburton ◽

S. S. D. Bredin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

United States ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Native American ◽

The United States ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Physical Activity Levels

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Effects of trees, gardens, and nature trails on heat index and child health: Design and methods of the Green Schoolyards Project

10.21203/rs.3.rs-48960/v4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kevin Lanza ◽

Melody Alcazar ◽

Deanna M. Hoelscher ◽

III Harold W. Kohl

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

United States ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Air Temperature ◽

The United States ◽

Heat Index ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Natural Setting ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Nature Trails

Abstract Background: Latinx children in the United States are at high risk for nature-deficit disorder, heat-related illness, and physical inactivity. We developed the Green Schoolyards Project to investigate how green features—trees, gardens, and nature trails—in school parks impact heat index (i.e., air temperature and relative humidity) within parks, and physical activity levels and socioemotional well-being of these children. Herein, we present novel methods for a) observing children’s interaction with green features and b) measuring heat index and children’s behaviors in a natural setting, and a selection of baseline results.Methods: During two September weeks (high temperature) and one November week (moderate temperature) in 2019, we examined three joint-use elementary school parks in Central Texas, United States, serving predominantly low-income Latinx families. To develop thermal profiles for each park, we installed 10 air temperature/relative humidity sensors per park, selecting sites based on land cover, land use, and even spatial coverage. We measured green features within a geographic information system. In a cross-sectional study, we used an adapted version of System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to assess children’s physical activity levels and interactions with green features. In a cohort study, we equipped 30 3rd and 30 4th grade students per school during recess with accelerometers and Global Positioning System devices, and surveyed these students regarding their connection to nature. Baseline analyses included inverse distance weighting for thermal profiles and summing observed counts of children interacting with trees.Results: In September 2019, average daily heat index ranged 2.0°F among park sites, and maximum daily heat index ranged from 103.4°F (air temperature = 33.8°C; relative humidity = 55.2%) under tree canopy to 114.1°F (air temperature = 37.9°C; relative humidity = 45.2%) on an unshaded playground. 10.8% more girls and 25.4% more boys interacted with trees in September than in November.Conclusions: We found extreme heat conditions at select sites within parks, and children positioning themselves under trees during periods of high heat index. These methods can be used by public health researchers and practitioners to inform the redesign of greenspaces in the face of climate change and health inequities.

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