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. 2021 Feb 24;18(5):2235.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052235.

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

Jan Wilke  1 , Lisa Mohr  1 , Adam S Tenforde  2 , Pascal Edouard  3   4 , Chiara Fossati  5 , Marcela González-Gross  6   7 , Celso Sánchez Ramírez  8 , Fernando Laiño  9 , Benedict Tan  10 , Julian David Pillay  11 , Fabio Pigozzi  5 , David Jimenez-Pavon  7   12 , Bernhard Novak  13 , Johannes Jaunig  13 , Mandy Zhang  10 , Mireille van Poppel  13 , Christoph Heidt  14 , Steffen Willwacher  15   16 , Gustavo Yuki  17 , Daniel E Lieberman  18 , Lutz Vogt  1 , Evert Verhagen  19 , Luiz Hespanhol  17   19 , Karsten Hollander  2   20
Affiliations

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

Jan Wilke et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

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.

Keywords: coronavirus; exercise; guidelines; health.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as a function of pre-restriction activity. Figure shows absolute means. PA = physical activity, min = minutes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in physical activity levels as a function of age. Figure shows absolute means and relative differences. min = minutes, MVPA = moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, VPA = vigorous physical activity, yrs. = years, Δ = difference.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean changes in MVPA and VPA levels stratified by countries. min = minutes, MVPA = moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, VPA = vigorous physical activity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The severity of public life restrictions as measured with the Containment Health Index. Box (right) and individual country values (left) represent the period of data collection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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