TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wilke, Jan
A1  - Mohr, Lisa
A1  - Tenforde, Adam S.
A1  - Edouard, Pascal
A1  - Fossati, Chiara
A1  - González-Gross, Marcela
A1  - Sánchez Ramírez, Celso
A1  - Laiño, Fernando
A1  - Tan, Benedict
A1  - Pillay, Julian David
A1  - Pigozzi, Fabio
A1  - Jimenez-Pavon, David
A1  - Novak, Bernhard
A1  - Jaunig, Johannes
A1  - Zhang, Mandy
A1  - Poppel, Mireille van
A1  - Heidt, Christoph
A1  - Willwacher, Steffen
A1  - Yuki, Gustavo
A1  - Lieberman, Daniel E.
A1  - Vogt, Lutz
A1  - Verhagen, Evert
A1  - Hespanhol, Luiz
A1  - Hollander, Karsten Peter
T1  - A pandemic within the pandemic? Physical activity levels substantially decreased in countries affected by COVID-19
T2  - International journal of environmental research and public health
N2  - 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.
KW  - coronavirus
KW  - health
KW  - exercise
KW  - guidelines
Y1  - 2021
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/60991
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-609917
SN  - 1660-4601
VL  - 2021
IS  - 5, art. 2235
SP  - 1
EP  - 11
PB  - MDPI AG
CY  - Basel
ER  -