Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Feb 28, 2021
Date Accepted: Oct 14, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Nov 25, 2021
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior among overweight young adults: A year-long longitudinal analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted multiple aspects of daily living, including behaviors associated with occupation, transportation, and health. It is unclear how these changes to daily living impacted physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Objective:
To examine the impact of the COVID-19 mitigation strategies on physical activity and sedentary behavior among young adults enrolled in an ongoing weight loss trial using longitudinal data acquired from wrist-worn activity monitors over the course of 1 year in San Diego, CA.
Methods:
Date were collected in 315 participants between 11/01/2019 and 10/30/2020 using the Fitbit Charge 3. After strict filtering for valid consistent wear (more than 10 hours per day for 250+ days), data from 97 participants were analyzed to detect multiple structural changes in time series of physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Results:
After initiation of the shelter-in-place order in CA on 03/19/2021, there were significant decreases in step counts (-2872 steps per day, 95% CI [-2734; -3010]), light physical activity (-41·9 minutes, 95% CI [39·5, 44·3]), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (-12·2 minutes, 95% CI [10·6, 13·8]), as well as significant increases in sedentary behavior (+52·8 minutes, 95% CI [47.0, 58.5]). Decreases were greater than expected declines observed during winter holidays, and as of 10/30/2020, they had not returned to levels observed prior to shelter-in-place orders.
Conclusions:
In young adults, physical activity decreased and sedentary behavior increased concurrent with COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Health conditions associated with sedentary lifestyle may be additional unintended costs of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Trial: NIH 5R01HL136769-03)
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