Changes in Physical Activity among United Kingdom University Students Following the Implementation of Coronavirus Lockdown Measures

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and resulting restrictions have significantly impacted physical activity levels. However, objectively measured changes in physical activity levels among UK university students during lockdown are understudied. Using data collected via remote measurement technology from a mobile physical activity tracker, this study aimed to describe the longitudinal trajectories of physical activity following the start of lockdown among students at a large UK university, and to investigate whether these trajectories varied according to age, gender, and ethnicity. Continuous physical activity data for steps walked per week (n = 730) and miles run per week (n = 264) were analysed over the first period of lockdown and subsequent restriction easing using negative binomial mixed models for repeated measures. Throughout the observation period, more steps were walked by males compared to females, and by White groups compared to all other ethnic groups combined. However, there was a gradual increase in the number of steps walked per week following the commencement of lockdown, irrespective of sociodemographic characteristics. For females only, there was a decrease in the number of miles run per week following lockdown. The long-term impact of the pandemic on physical health is unknown, but our results highlight changes in physical activity which could have implications for physical health.

A Rapid Review on the Influence of COVID-19 Lockdown and Quarantine Measures on Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the General Population

“…Only one cohort study also made an outcome measurement post-lockdown additionally to measurement during lockdown [95]. The four (prospective) secondary data analyses based their measurements on continuous data collection via movement tracking systems, whereby two calculated mean values for the time before and during lockdown [81,94] and two presented linear trends (trajectories) of outcomes before and during lockdown measures [98,99]. Different sampling approaches were used.…”

“…Five studies invited all or a random sample of students from universities [74,76,84,88,92]. Another study only used data from students who used a university-intern movement tracking app [98]. Two studies used data from all registered adult users of a movement tracking app [81,94].…”

“…Seven studies gave no information on the mean or median age of participating (older) adults [32,78,79,81,90,94,99]. The mean (or median) age of the subgroup of students ranged between 20.0 and 29.9 years [74,76,84,88,92,97,98]. Of the five studies investigating children and adolescents, three stated a mean age between 9.0 and 12.1 years [87,89,93], and two an age range of 5-17 years [86] and 15-18 years [95], respectively.…”

“…Twelve studies had a higher percentage of females [69,72,73,77,79,81,83,85,90,94,96,99], and only one study (two articles) had a higher percentage of males [70,71]. All studies using students as a population had a higher percentage of females, ranging between 60.0 and 80.0 percent [74,76,84,88,92,97,98]. Four studies on children and adolescents which gave information on gender distribution, illustrated a nearly equal distribution of boys and girls [86,87,89,93].…”

Testing the Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic, with Partial Least Squares Second-Order Latent Constructs

“…These concerns extend to university students [ 15 ], already considered an at-risk group for sedentary behavior prior the pandemic [ 16 ]. Recent work confirms that their PA levels have further decreased during the lockdown in Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Switzerland [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. In Romania, PA classes were held online, with the inherent limitation of professors not being able to check if students actually exercised.…”