SportRxiv

Journal: SportRxiv

Society for Transparency, Openness, and Replication in Kinesology

Publications 1 - 1 of 1

Beyond FITT - How Density Can Improve the Understanding of the Dose-Response Relationship Between Physical Activity and Brain Health
Herold, Fabian; Zou, Liye; Theobald, Paula; et al. (2024)
SportRxiv
Research on physical activity and health, including planned and structured forms such as acute and chronic physical exercise, has focused on understanding potential dose-response relationships. Traditionally, the variables of (i) Frequency, (ii) Intensity, (iii) Time, (iv) and Type (known as the FITT principle) have been used to operationalize the dose of physical activity. In this article, we describe the limitations of FITT and propose that it should be complemented by the underappreciated variable density, which defines the temporal distribution of physical activity stimuli within a single bout of physical activity or between successive bouts of physical activity relative to time spent resting (e.g., in napping/sleeping or sedentary behaviors). Using the field of physical activity and brain health as an example, we discuss challenges and opportunities for further research to use density to improve our understanding of dose-response relationships between physical activity and health-related outcomes.

Publications 1 - 1 of 1