COVID-19 nationwide lockdown and physical activity profiles among North-western Italian population using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

Abstract

Background The role of physical activity in enhancing health is well recognized. However, in the more industrialized countries, physical activity rates are declining, and the emerging COVID-19 pandemic may amplify this scenario. Thus, this study aimed to report the Italian population’s physical activity profile living in the North-western regions during the national lockdown. Methods Physical activity was assessed using the official Italian short form of IPAQ, intended for Social Networking Services (SNS). Participation was voluntary, and people could fill the questionnaire simply by clicking on a specific link. Results The final sample size was 612 Italians, male and female, equally distributed (49.1% male and 50.9% female). Data showed a percentage of 15.4% of inactive subjects (MET < 700), 61.8% of moderate-active (MET 700–2500), and 22.9% of active people (MET > 2500). Women were more inactive than men (p < 0.01; 57.4% vs 42.6%). Furthermore, participants were classified into four classes of age: 18–29; 30–44; 45–59; and 60–79. Class 18–29 was prevalent (p < 0.01, 68.3%) and showed higher levels of physical activity (p < 0.05). Conclusions Italians living in North-western regions maintained a moderate amount of physical activity during the quarantine. This behavior should be encouraged, particularly among women that usually appear to be less active than men.

Will Nothing Be the Same Again?: Changes in Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and Consequences on Mental Health

“…Besides, since there is an important correlation between sedentary behavior and low mood, the issue of reducing sedentary time during the period of social isolation may be stressed for beneficial effects during lockdown but also for future wellbeing [16]. People should be encouraged to maintain a moderate amount of physical activity during the quarantine, particularly women, who are usually less active than men [17]. Since COVID-19 women were less physically active than men and reported more barriers and fewer facilitators to physical activity, they experienced significantly more generalized anxiety than men and showed significantly lower mental health scores [18].…”

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“…Even though pupils were instructed by coaches to practise home-based physical activities, it can be argued that either general and unguided exercise assignments of 45–50 min 2 days per week were insufficient to retain adolescent physical fitness or that assignments’ compliance was not respected, if not both. It has been demonstrated that more experienced athletes of the same regional area (4 years of experience or more) who have had the opportunity to be remotely assisted, guided, and monitored by their coaches were more engaged in home training than their recreational counterparts, being able to keep high physical activity levels even in an extraordinary situation such as a nationwide lockdown [ 44 ]. It can be suggested that during training restriction periods, recreational athletes may need more thorough fitness programs with more detailed instructions and stricter surveillance than high-level athletes in order for home-based training to be effective.…”

Obesity in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: It Is Time to Improve Actions for a Healthier Lifestyle. The Results of a Comparison Between Two Italian Regions With Different “Presumed” Lifestyles

“…On the other hand, more attention to the physical appearance has been paid by the young generations, particularly in the industrialized regions and then in Northern Italy. In a recent interview performed among North−western Italian population, aimed to investigate the PA profile during the COVID-19 lockdown, 61.8% of interweaved people were moderately active, being tendentially young people more active than adults or elderly ( 45 ). On the contrary, data reported by the Italian Institute of Statistics show inactivity levels of nearly 50% among populations of southern Italy, with only about 20% of older adults practicing continuous PA ( 46 ).…”