Changes in Physical Activity Patterns Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

With the outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) in late 2019, governments increasingly imposed containment strategies, including social distancing as well as restricted population movement, potentially having negative impacts on mental and physical health. A growing number of studies have examined the impact of the pandemic on different facets of physical activity (PA); an overview combining these (mixed) results, however, is missing. Thus, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate whether and to which extent PA changed from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking age, gender, and measurement method into account. The literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Results of the main characteristics were descriptively synthesized and analyzed in a meta-analysis quantifying effects of the pandemic on PA divided by age groups, with additional subgroup analyses of the characteristics age, gender, and measurement method being narratively synthesized. Overall, 57 studies with a total sample size of 119,094 participants (N between 10 and 60,560 subjects) from 14 countries worldwide with participants aged between four and 93 years were included. Thirty-two studies revealed a significant decline in PA, whereas only five studies found a significant increase in PA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fourteen studies revealed mixed results. Except for children and adolescents, PA decreased in all age groups, independent of gender. Most self-reported and all device-based measurement methods showed a reduction in PA. However, effects were not found to be significant in all age groups. Nevertheless, the declining trend should be noted and governments should strive to enable PA within periods of pandemic restrictions, or promote alternatives such as digital training to avoid negative health consequences within the population.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Anthropometric Variables, Blood Pressure, and Glucose and Lipid Profile in Healthy Adults: A before and after Pandemic Lockdown Longitudinal Study

“…In our study, we found a significant decrease in physical activity both in men and women, being higher in women. Our results are consistent with other published studies [ 74 , 75 ], and differ from those obtained by Castañeda-Barbarro et al’s. in which a greater decrease in physical exercise in men is found [ 76 ].…”

Declines in Physical Activity among New Zealand Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Analyses of Five Data Waves from Pre-Pandemic through April 2021

“…Strategies such as lockdowns, social restrictions, and masking mandates impacted the nature of people’s work, the delivery of education, travel methods and freedom, as well as the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of leisure activities people could participate in [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Although there are variable findings in the international literature, overall results indicate that physical activity levels have been impacted considerably, with decreases observed among children and adults [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Any deterioration in physical activity is cause for concern, especially considering the association between physical activity and physical and mental well-being [ 11 ].…”

A retrospective real-world observational pilot analysis of Waya: a self-monitoring fitness app in Germany

“…Several studies have now shown that the pandemic restrictions have resulted in a disruption of physical activity [47]. A meta-analysis performed by Wunsch et al [48] demonstrated that more than half of the analyzed studies reported an overall decrease in physical activity, but more importantly that most self-reported and all devicebased measurement methods showed a reduction in physical activity. Although we were not able to show the direct effect of physical activity on weight loss itself, our cohort using the Waya app showed an increase in physical activity independent of age and sex, although pandemic restrictions were in order.…”