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A Pandemic within the Pandemic? Physical Activity Levels Substantially Decreased in Countries Affected by COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Jan Wilke

    (Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60488 Frankfurt, Germany)

  • Lisa Mohr

    (Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60488 Frankfurt, Germany)

  • Adam S. Tenforde

    (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA)

  • Pascal Edouard

    (Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Science, University Jean Monnet, 42000 Saint Etienne, France
    Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, Sports Medicine Unity, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, 42055 Saint-Etienne, France)

  • Chiara Fossati

    (Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy)

  • Marcela González-Gross

    (ImFine Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
    Exercise Is Medicine, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Celso Sánchez Ramírez

    (Sciences of Physical Activitiy, Sports and Health School, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170020, Chile)

  • Fernando Laiño

    (Fundación Instituto Superior de Ciencias de la Salud, Buenos Aires 1885, Argentina)

  • Benedict Tan

    (Changi General Hospital, Singapore 529889, Singapore)

  • Julian David Pillay

    (Basic Medical Sciences Department, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa)

  • Fabio Pigozzi

    (Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy)

  • David Jimenez-Pavon

    (Exercise Is Medicine, 28040 Madrid, Spain
    MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11519 Cádiz, Spain)

  • Bernhard Novak

    (Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Johannes Jaunig

    (Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Mandy Zhang

    (Changi General Hospital, Singapore 529889, Singapore)

  • Mireille van Poppel

    (Institute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Christoph Heidt

    (Department of Orthopedics, University Children’s Hospital Basel, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Steffen Willwacher

    (School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
    Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, 77652 Offenburg, Germany)

  • Gustavo Yuki

    (Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), Sao Paulo 03071-000, Brazil)

  • Daniel E. Lieberman

    (Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA)

  • Lutz Vogt

    (Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60488 Frankfurt, Germany)

  • Evert Verhagen

    (Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University Medical Centers-Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Luiz Hespanhol

    (Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (UNICID), Sao Paulo 03071-000, Brazil
    Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University Medical Centers-Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Karsten Hollander

    (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
    Institute of Interdisciplinary Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Governments have restricted public life during the COVID-19 pandemic, inter alia closing sports facilities and gyms. As regular exercise is essential for health, this study examined the effect of pandemic-related confinements on physical activity (PA) levels. A multinational survey was performed in 14 countries. Times spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as in vigorous physical activity only (VPA) were assessed using the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form). Data were obtained for leisure and occupational PA pre- and during restrictions. Compliance with PA guidelines was calculated based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). In total, n = 13,503 respondents (39 ± 15 years, 59% females) were surveyed. Compared to pre-restrictions, overall self-reported PA declined by 41% (MVPA) and 42.2% (VPA). Reductions were higher for occupational vs. leisure time, young and old vs. middle-aged persons, previously more active vs. less active individuals, but similar between men and women. Compared to pre-pandemic, compliance with WHO guidelines decreased from 80.9% (95% CI: 80.3–81.7) to 62.5% (95% CI: 61.6–63.3). Results suggest PA levels have substantially decreased globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key stakeholders should consider strategies to mitigate loss in PA in order to preserve health during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Wilke & Lisa Mohr & Adam S. Tenforde & Pascal Edouard & Chiara Fossati & Marcela González-Gross & Celso Sánchez Ramírez & Fernando Laiño & Benedict Tan & Julian David Pillay & Fabio Pigozzi & Davi, 2021. "A Pandemic within the Pandemic? Physical Activity Levels Substantially Decreased in Countries Affected by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2235-:d:505025
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Frida Eek & Caroline Larsson & Anita Wisén & Eva Ekvall Hansson, 2021. "Self-Perceived Changes in Physical Activity and the Relation to Life Satisfaction and Rated Physical Capacity in Swedish Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Jacob Meyer & Cillian McDowell & Jeni Lansing & Cassandra Brower & Lee Smith & Mark Tully & Matthew Herring, 2020. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro & Ane Arbillaga-Etxarri & Borja Gutiérrez-Santamaría & Aitor Coca, 2020. "Physical Activity Change during COVID-19 Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-10, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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