Youth physical activity and the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors in 2021 and Changes from 2019 to 2021 Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021

“…This observation was not surprising because of changes in adolescents’ school and extracurricular schedules as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being physically active for ≥60 minutes/day on all 7 days (i.e., meeting guideline for aerobic activity) and meeting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines did not change from 2019 to 2021, which is inconsistent with findings from the beginning of the pandemic illustrating that physical activity decreased ( 4 ). However, the prevalence estimates for 2021 are still troubling, with less than one fourth (23.9%) of students getting the recommended ≥60 minutes of physical activity daily and only 16.0% meeting both aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines.…”

“…From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, school and community practices changed to comply with COVID-19 guidance. Such changes included modified meal services and sport schedules, which likely affected opportunities for students to consistently engage in healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors ( 4 , 5 ). For example, recent studies illustrated that breakfast regularity declined during the pandemic, whereas afternoon and evening snack consumption increased among adolescents ( 6 ), and homes had more high-calorie snack foods, unhealthy foods (e.g., desserts or sweets), and nonperishable processed foods during the pandemic ( 7 ).…”

“…For example, recent studies illustrated that breakfast regularity declined during the pandemic, whereas afternoon and evening snack consumption increased among adolescents ( 6 ), and homes had more high-calorie snack foods, unhealthy foods (e.g., desserts or sweets), and nonperishable processed foods during the pandemic ( 7 ). Likewise, adolescent physical activity levels decreased at the beginning of the pandemic because of changes in school- and sports-based programs ( 4 , 8 ). These pandemic-related effects are concerning because students might not meet key recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 for following a healthy eating pattern ( 1 ) and not reach the duration and frequency of physical activity recommended by the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, second edition ( 2 ).…”

“…Despite studies examining dietary and physical activity behaviors of students between March 2020 and July 2021 ( 4 – 8 ), little is known about these behaviors among U.S. high school students during the fall of 2021 when most of them returned to school in person. This report provides 2021 national estimates of dietary and physical activity behaviors among U.S. high school students overall and by sex and race and ethnicity.…”

Physical Activity: An Untapped Resource to Address Our Nation’s Mental Health Crisis Among Children and Adolescents

“…10 Moreover, data suggest that for many young people, physical activity rates decreased and sedentary behavior increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. 11,12 Key contributing factors were fewer opportunities for school-related physical activity (eg, physical education, activity breaks, after-school sports) and families and caregivers not feeling safe sending their kids outdoors to play. 11,12…”