Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood Context
It is difficult to obtain detailed information on the context of physical activity at large geographic scales, such as the entire United States, as well as over long periods of time, such as over years. MapMyFitness is a suite of interactive tools for individuals to track their workouts online or us...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00019/full |
| _version_ | 1819134632009924608 |
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| author | Jana Ariel Hirsch Peter eJames Jamaica R M Robinson Kyler M Eastman Kevin Daniel Conley Kelly R Evenson Francine eLaden Francine eLaden Francine eLaden |
| author_facet | Jana Ariel Hirsch Peter eJames Jamaica R M Robinson Kyler M Eastman Kevin Daniel Conley Kelly R Evenson Francine eLaden Francine eLaden Francine eLaden |
| author_sort | Jana Ariel Hirsch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is difficult to obtain detailed information on the context of physical activity at large geographic scales, such as the entire United States, as well as over long periods of time, such as over years. MapMyFitness is a suite of interactive tools for individuals to track their workouts online or using GPS in their phones or other wireless trackers. This method article discusses the use of physical activity data tracked using MapMyFitness to examine patterns over space and time. An overview of MapMyFitness, including data tracked, user information, and geographic scope, is explored. We illustrate the utility of MapMyFitness data using tracked physical activity by users in Winston-Salem, NC between 2006 and 2013. Types of physical activities tracked are described, as well as the percent of activities occurring in parks. Strengths of MapMyFitness data include objective data collection, low participant burden, extensive geographic scale, and longitudinal series. Limitations include generalizability, behavioral change as the result of technology use, and potential ethical considerations. MapMyFitness is a powerful tool to investigate patterns of physical activity across large geographic and temporal scales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:06:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68398db4410d4c70a8895e0a66a75674 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:06:16Z |
| publishDate | 2014-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-68398db4410d4c70a8895e0a66a756742022-12-21T18:29:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652014-03-01210.3389/fpubh.2014.0001980485Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood ContextJana Ariel Hirsch0Peter eJames1Jamaica R M Robinson2Kyler M Eastman3Kevin Daniel Conley4Kelly R Evenson5Francine eLaden6Francine eLaden7Francine eLaden8University of Michigan School of Public HealthHarvard School of Public HealthUniversity of Michigan School of Public HealthMapMyFitness, IncStanford UniversityUniversity of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public HealthBrigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard School of Public HealthHarvard School of Public HealthIt is difficult to obtain detailed information on the context of physical activity at large geographic scales, such as the entire United States, as well as over long periods of time, such as over years. MapMyFitness is a suite of interactive tools for individuals to track their workouts online or using GPS in their phones or other wireless trackers. This method article discusses the use of physical activity data tracked using MapMyFitness to examine patterns over space and time. An overview of MapMyFitness, including data tracked, user information, and geographic scope, is explored. We illustrate the utility of MapMyFitness data using tracked physical activity by users in Winston-Salem, NC between 2006 and 2013. Types of physical activities tracked are described, as well as the percent of activities occurring in parks. Strengths of MapMyFitness data include objective data collection, low participant burden, extensive geographic scale, and longitudinal series. Limitations include generalizability, behavioral change as the result of technology use, and potential ethical considerations. MapMyFitness is a powerful tool to investigate patterns of physical activity across large geographic and temporal scales.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00019/fullGeographic Information SystemsRecreationbig dataphysical activityGPSmethods |
| spellingShingle | Jana Ariel Hirsch Peter eJames Jamaica R M Robinson Kyler M Eastman Kevin Daniel Conley Kelly R Evenson Francine eLaden Francine eLaden Francine eLaden Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood Context Frontiers in Public Health Geographic Information Systems Recreation big data physical activity GPS methods |
| title | Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood Context |
| title_full | Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood Context |
| title_fullStr | Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood Context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood Context |
| title_short | Using MapMyFitness to Place Physical Activity into Neighborhood Context |
| title_sort | using mapmyfitness to place physical activity into neighborhood context |
| topic | Geographic Information Systems Recreation big data physical activity GPS methods |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00019/full |
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