COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders, Health Behaviors and Mental Health [COVID-19 and Physical Activity Series]

The impact of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders on health behaviors in adults by Dr. Flanagan and co-authors assessed lifestyle changes across different BMI classifications in response to the pandemic. Data was collected from 7,753 participants between April 3, 2020 and May 3, 2020.  The online survey captured information across five domains: demographics and household information, sedentary behaviors, physical activity, diet, sleep, and mental health.  Dr. Flanagan and co-authors found that sedentary leisure behaviors, such as watching television, using the phone for entertainment, and playing video games, increased by 16.83±0.84 (p<0.001) and 21.25±0.90 minutes (p<0.001) on weekend days and week days, respectively.  They also found that physical activity declined 18.32±4.63 minutes per week and, after accounting for exercise intensity, declined by 111.88±22.07 weekly MET minutes (both p<0.001), and respondents who reported weight gain demonstrated the largest declines in physical activity.  Dr. Flanagan and co-authors also found that 27.3% of the respondents reported weight gain and weight gain was more prevalent with obesity compared to overweight and normal weight (33.4% vs 20.5% and 24.7%, respectively p<0.001).  Similarly, reported anxiety scores nearly doubled during the pandemic and the magnitude of increase was significantly greater in people with obesity (p≤0.01).  Government mandates together with fear of contracting the virus have significantly impacted lifestyle behaviors alongside declines in mental health. These deleterious impacts have disproportionately affected individuals with obesity. 

Flanagan, E. W., Beyl, R. A., Fearnbach, S. N., Altazan, A. D., Martin, C. K., & Redman, L. M. (2020). The impact of COVID‐19 stay‐at‐home orders on health behaviors in adults. Obesity.