Impact of COVID-19 Self-Isolation on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior [COVID-19 and Physical Activity Series]

Moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior change in self-isolating adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil by Dr. Schuch and co-authors is a cross-sectional survey.  Data was collected between April 11 and May 5, 2020 using self-reported questionnaires.  Participants were self-isolating, defined as staying-at-home and only leaving for essential activities such as visiting the supermarket, the pharmacy, or a health professional.  Dr. Schuch and co-authors found a reduction of 64.28 (95% CI: 36.06 to 83.33) minutes per day spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity, corresponding to a 59.7% reduction (95%CI:35.6 to 82.2).  They also found an additional 152.3 (95% CI: 111.9 to 192.7) minutes per day spent in sedentary behavior, corresponding to a 42.0% increase (95% CI: 31.74 to 52.50).  Greater reductions in moderate to vigorous physical activity and increases in sedentary behavior were seen in younger, unmarried, and employed adults, as well as those with self-reported previous diagnosis of a mental disorder.  Previous studies have shown sufficient evidence to justify making physical activity promotion a global public health priority during the coronavirus pandemic.  These findings highlight the urgent need for the adoption of public health strategies to address the impact of self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic on moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Schuch, F., Bulzing, R., Meyer, J., Lopez-Sanchez, G., Grabovac, I., Willeit, P., ... & Ward, P. (2020). Moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior change in self-isolating adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: A cross-sectional survey exploring correlates. medRxiv.