Bouted and non-bouted moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with health-related quality of life

Examine the association between bouted (10 + minutes in duration) and non-bouted (< 10 minutes in duration) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Data from the 2003–2006 NHANES were used (20 + years; N = 5530). Participants wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer over a period of up to 7 days to assess accumulation in bouted and non-bouted MVPA. From 4 self-reported items, HRQOL was assessed using the CDC HRQOL-4 questionnaire, with a higher HRQOL-4 score indicating worse HRQOL. In a single multivariable ordinal regression analysis, both non-bout (β(adjusted) = − 0.01; 95% CI: − 0.01 to − 0.003; P = 0.006) and bouted (β(adjusted) = − 0.08; 95% CI: − 0.15 to − 0.01; P = 0.01) MVPA were associated with HRQOL. Greater accumulation in both bouted and non-bouted MVPA was associated with better perceived HRQOL.