Concurrent agreement between ActiGraphⓇ and activPALⓇ in measuring moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for adults

•Different activity monitors measure moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in different ways, meaning comparison between studies can be difficult.•ActiGraphⓇ and activPALⓇ can achieve good agreement in measuring MVPA by using particular pairs of methods.•Differences in MVPA measured between activPALⓇ and ActiGraphⓇ monitors were comparable to differences between different ActiGraphⓇ methods.•Using the threshold of 100 steps/min to measure MVPA in activPALⓇ had best agreement with ActiGraphⓇ, and is therefore recommended to be used to measure MVPA.•ActivPALⓇ can be used as a single monitor to measure both physical activity and sedentary behaviour since it is good for measuring sedentary behaviour, and this study showed it can measure MVPA in good agreement with ActiGraphⓇ. This study aimed to assess the ability of the activPALⓇ monitor (commonly used for measuring Sedentary Behaviour (SB), sitting or reclining with low energy expenditure while awake) to measure moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), by assessing its agreement with the concurrent measurement by ActiGraphⓇ monitor (commonly used for measuring MVPA) to identify if a single monitor could be used to measure both MVPA and SB. A convenience sample of 24 adults (79% female; aged 23–60) wore an ActiGraphⓇ GT3X+ and an activPAL3Ⓡ concurrently for one day during free-living activities. Time spent in MVPA was calculated as an outcome measure using published methods (ActiGraphⓇ, n = 6; activPALⓇn = 4). Agreement was assessed between pairs of outcomes using the Bland & Altman method. Participants engaged in between 60 and 145 min of MVPA. The activPALⓇ method summing time walking with a cadence ≥100 steps/min underestimated MVPA compared with the ActiGraphⓇ but had the lowest aggregate bias (−16 min). Other activPALⓇ methods, based on acceleration counts and the embedded MET algorithm, overestimated MVPA compared to the ActiGraphⓇ. The study was limited by the lack of activPALⓇ acceleration count methods developed for adults. With the recommended methods, the activPALⓇ could be suitable for use as a single monitor to measure both SB and MVPA.