The COVID-19 pandemic altered many facets of life. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19-related public health guidelines on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, mental health, and their interrelations. Cross-sectional data were collected from 3052 US adults 3–8 April 2020 (from all 50 states). Participants self-reported pre- and post-COVID-19 levels of moderate and vigorous PA, sitting, and screen time. Currently-followed public health guidelines, stress, loneliness, positive mental health (PMH), social connectedness, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were self-reported. Participants were grouped by meeting US PA guidelines, reporting ≥8 h/day of sitting, or ≥8 h/day of screen time, pre- and post-COVID-19. Overall, 62% of participants were female, with age ranging from 18–24 (16.6% of sample) to 75+ (9.3%). Self-reported PA was lower post-COVID among participants reporting being previously active (mean change: −32.3% [95% CI: −36.3%, −28.1%]) but largely unchanged among previously inactive participants (+2.3% [−3.5%, +8.1%]). No longer meeting PA guidelines and increased screen time were associated with worse depression, loneliness, stress, and PMH (p < 0.001). Self-isolation/quarantine was associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to social distancing (p < 0.001). Maintaining and enhancing physical activity participation and limiting screen time increases during abrupt societal changes may mitigate the mental health consequences.

Highlights Nearly half of the participants spent more than 30 min per day in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). One-third of the participants spent more than 10 h per day sitting. Those reporting over 30 min of MVPA/day were less likely to present depressive, anxiety, or co-occurring depressive and anxiety symptoms. Those reporting over 10 h sitting/day were more likely to present depressive symptoms.

Highlights More than one in six UK adults increased their alcohol consumption during lockdown. Increased alcohol consumption was associated with poor overall mental health. These findings highlight the importance of planning targeted support.

Background Prospective cohorts have suggested that physical activity (PA) can decrease the risk of incident anxiety. However, no meta‐analysis has been conducted. Aims To examine the prospective relationship between PA and incident anxiety and explore potential moderators. Methods Searches were conducted on major databases from inception to October 10, 2018 for prospective studies (at least 1 year of follow‐up) that calculated the odds ratio (OR) of incident anxiety in people with high PA against people with low PA. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS). A random‐effects meta‐analysis was conducted and heterogeneity was explored using subgroup and meta‐regression analysis. Results Across 14 cohorts of 13 unique prospective studies (N = 75,831, median males = 50.1%) followed for 357,424 person‐years, people with high self‐reported PA (versus low PA) were at reduced odds of developing anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.74; 95% confidence level [95% CI] = 0.62, 0.88; crude OR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.92). High self‐reported PA was protective against the emergence of agoraphobia (AOR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.18, 0.98) and posttraumatic stress disorder (AOR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.39, 0.85). The protective effects for anxiety were evident in Asia (AOR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.96) and Europe (AOR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.97); for children/adolescents (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.29, 0.90) and adults (AOR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.95). Results remained robust when adjusting for confounding factors. Overall study quality was moderate to high (mean NOS = 6.7 out of 9). Conclusion Evidence supports the notion that self‐reported PA can confer protection against the emergence of anxiety regardless of demographic factors. In particular, higher PA levels protects from agoraphobia and posttraumatic disorder.

Resistance exercise training significantly reduced depressive symptoms among adults regardless of health status, total prescribed volume of RET, or significant improvements in strength. Better-quality randomized clinical trials blinding both allocation and assessment and comparing RET with other empirically supported treatments for depressive symptoms are needed.

ObjectiveTo investigate the levels and correlates of physical activity during COVID-19 social distancing in a sample of the UK public.MethodsThis paper presents analyses of data from a cross-sectional study. Levels of physical activity during COVID-19 social distancing were self-reported. Participants also reported on sociodemographic and clinical data. The association between several factors and physical activity was studied using regression models.ResultsNine hundred and eleven adults were included (64.0% were women and 50.4% of the participants were aged 35–64 years). 75.0% of the participants met the physical activity guidelines during social distancing. Meeting these guidelines during social distancing was significantly associated with sex (reference: male; female: OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.33), age (reference: 18–34 years; ≥65 years: OR=4.11, 95% CI 2.01 to 8.92), annual household income (reference: <£15 000; £15 000–<£25 000: OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.76; £25 000–<£40 000: OR=3.16, 95% CI 1.68 to 6.04; £40 000–<£60 000: OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.19 to 4.34; ≥£60 000: OR=2.11, 95% CI 1.09 to 4.09), level of physical activity per day when not observing social distancing (OR=1.00 (per 1 min increase), 95% CI 1.00 to 1.01), and any physical symptom experienced during social distancing (reference: no; yes: OR=0.31, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.46).ConclusionDuring COVID-19, social distancing interventions should focus on increasing physical activity levels among younger adults, men and those with low annual household income. It should be noted in the present sample that women and younger adults are over-represented.

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated global response have significantly altered people's behaviour, likely decreasing physical activity, increasing sitting and screen time, while simultaneously worsening mental health. The objective of this project was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19-related public health restrictions on physical activity, sedentary time, mental health, and their interrelations. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 3,052 US adults between April 3 rd-7 th , 2020. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from mass emails to faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Iowa State University and additional snowball sampling resulting in responses from all 50 states and the District of Colombia. Moderate and vigorous physical activity, sitting, and screen time, both pre-and post-COVID-19-related restrictions, along with currently-followed public health restrictions were self-reported. Current mental health was reported including stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4), loneliness (3-item Loneliness), positive mental health (Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), social connectedness (Lubben Social Network Scale), and depressive and anxiety symptoms (Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories). Participants were grouped by meeting US physical activity guidelines (active/inactive), reporting ≥8 hrs/day of sitting, or ≥8 hrs/day of screen time, pre-and post-COVID-19-related restrictions. Results: Of the 3,052 participants (62% female), age ranged from 18-24 (16.6% of sample) to 75+ (9.3%). Weekly physical activity was reduced after COVID-19-related restrictions among previously active participants (mean change:-32.3% [95% CI:-36.3%,-28.1%]) but largely unchanged among previously inactive participants (+2.3% [-3.5%, +8.1%]). Large increases in

Objectives: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, major changes to how, or even whether, we work have occurred. This study examines associations of changing COVID-19-related employment conditions with physical activity and sedentary behavior. Methods: Data from 2,303 US adults in employment prior to COVID-19 were collected April 3rd−7th, 2020. Participants reported whether their employment remained unchanged, they were working from home (WFH) when they had not been before, or they lost their job due to the pandemic. Validated questionnaires assessed physical activity, sitting time, and screen time. Linear regression quantified associations of COVID-19-related employment changes with physical activity, sitting time, and screen time, controlling for age, sex, race, BMI, smoking status, marital status, chronic conditions, household location, public health restrictions, and recalled physical activity, sitting time, and screen time prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Compared to those whose employment remained unchanged, participants whose employment changed (either WFH or lost their job) due to COVID-19 reported higher sitting time (WFH: g = 0.153, 95% CI = 0.095-0.210; lost job: g = 0.212, 0.113-0.311) and screen time (WFH: g = 0.158, 0.104-0.212; lost job: g = 0.193, 0.102-0.285). There were no significant group differences for physical activity (WFH: g = −0.030, −0.101 to 0.042; lost job: g=-0.070, −0.178 to 0.037). Conclusion: COVID-19 related employment changes were associated with greater sitting and screen time. As sedentary time is consistently negatively associated with current and future health and wellbeing, increased sedentary time due to employment changes is a public health concern.