"Stay at Home" during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in an Italian Academic Community.
Anna MulassoMargherita Micheletti CremascoSimone CuomoAndrea TestaLynda Stella LattkeAurelia De LorenzoAlberto RainoldiEmanuela RabagliettiPublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2023)
This study investigates changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior in an Italian university community during Phase 1 of SARS-CoV-2 lockdown ("stay at home" government decree, from March 8th to May 4th, 2020) compared to their habits prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examine differences according to gender, university position, BMI categories, and sport participation. A total of 2596 people (median age 24, IQR 11 years; 70.8% women) filled out a survey after eight weeks of statutory confinement at home. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire measured PA and sedentary behavior in a typical week before and during lockdown. Physically inactive people passed from 10.9% to 35.0% before-during the lockdown. The total amount of PA decreased (median 2307 vs. 1367 MET-min/week; p < 0.001), while sedentary behavior increased (median 349 vs. 440 min/day; p < 0.001) between before and during the lockdown. The following categories showed a higher reduction in the total amount of PA: men when compared to women; people with normal weight when compared to pre-obese/obese people; and people who played sports when compared to those who did not play sports. There is a need to propose PA/exercise programs to counteract physical inactivity and sedentarism during a social emergency, with special attention to people who showed higher PA reduction.
Keyphrases
- physical activity
- mental health
- body mass index
- sars cov
- healthcare
- weight loss
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- public health
- metabolic syndrome
- adipose tissue
- type diabetes
- emergency department
- sleep quality
- health insurance
- cross sectional
- pregnancy outcomes
- bariatric surgery
- obese patients
- randomized controlled trial
- pregnant women
- high school
- insulin resistance
- study protocol
- breast cancer risk