Physical activity, resilience, emotions, moods, and weight control, during the COVID-19 global crisis

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed at exploring the relationships between physical activity, weight control, and psycho-social aspects of the COVID-19 lockdown, which have characterized the Israeli population’s behavior during the COVID-19 global crisis. Design Cross-sectional survey research. Methods Participants included 1855 men and women aged 18 and above, from different regions in the country and representing different sectors. They were recruited through the social media in a “snowball” sampling, and filled out a self-administered six-part survey: Demographic background, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the positive and negative affect scales (PANAS), the Conor and Davidson resilience scale, a questionnaire for measuring depressive symptoms, and questions regarding weight change based on the Israeli National Health and Nutrition (MABAT) survey. Results Routine physical activity (PA) was reported by 76.3% of the participants before the lockdown, 19.3% stopped exercising during this period, and 9.3% began exercising during the lockdown. The participants who were physically active during the lockdown period reported a higher level of resilience and positive feelings, and a lower level of depression, compared with those who were not physically active. People who were physically active during the lockdown maintained their weight compared with those who were inactive. Concerning weight change, 44.8% of the respondents maintained their weight, and a higher percentage of people reported weight gain than those who reported weight loss. Conclusions Continuous PA before and during the COVID-19 lockdown were associated with higher resilience and positive emotions, and depressive symptoms, in people aged 18 and above. Although a causal link cannot be established, in light of the results of the present study, encouraging physical activity may contribute to improving mental health and a sense of self-efficacy, as well as to maintaining weight during a crisis.

Teachers' characteristics predict students' guidance for healthy lifestyle: a cross-sectional study in Arab-speaking schools

“…The pandemic had an effect of health behaviors of the general population: A survey among Israeli adults demonstrated that more people stopped engaging in routine PA compared with those who began exercising during the lockdown. A higher percentage of people reported weight gain than those who reported weight loss [ 53 ]. The pandemic also had an effect on the health of children and adolescents, pointing to even greater importance of student guidance to lead a healthy lifestyle: In a large (N=37K) retrospective cohort study in Israel, the pandemic correlated with overall weight gain among children and adolescents [ 54 ].…”

Perceiving reduced physical activity during COVID-19 lockdown is related to lower quality of life: a cross-sectional study with young adults

“…Zach et al. ( 2021 ) found that people who were physically active during the lockdown period reported a higher level of resilience and positive feelings, and a lower level of depression, compared with those who were not physically active. Furthermore, they found that changes in PA habits from being active prelockdown to becoming inactive during lockdown were related to increased depressive symptoms.…”

“…were closed, people were allowed to be physically active. Current studies indicate that being physically active is positively associated with mental health, well-being, and quality of life under the pandemic/lockdown conditions and can help to cope with the challenges arising from the pandemic situation and its restrictions in everyday life (Brailovskaia et al., 2021 ; Maher, Hevel, Reifsteck, & Drollette, 2021 ; Mata et al., 2021 ; Zach, Fernandez-Rio, Zeev, Ophir, & Eilat-Adar, 2021 ). In contrast, social activities, such as meeting family and friends, going to bars, etc., were not possible.…”

Correction to: Physical activity, resilience, emotions, moods, and weight control, during the COVID-19 global crisis

“…Following publication of the original article [ 1 ], the authors identified that an incorrect version of Fig. 1 was published.…”

“…1186/ s13584-021-00473-x. *Correspondence: simaz@wincol.ac.il 1 The Academic College at Wingate, Wingate Institute, 4290200 Netanya, Israel Full list of author information is available at the end of the article Author details 1 The Academic College at Wingate, Wingate Institute, 4290200 Netanya, Israel. 2 Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.…”