Physical activity and sedentary behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic: An Australian population study

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Participating in physical activity (PA) and minimising time spent sedentary is important to achieve and maintain good health. Time spent being physically active and sedentary could be negatively influenced by the 2019 global pandemic where home confinement restrictions are commonplace internationally. The aim of this study was to identify the percentage of Australian adults meeting the PA and sedentary behaviour guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS:Australian adults participated in a cross-sectional online survey examining PA and sedentary behaviours during April, 2020. Descriptive statistics were produced for demographic, PA and sedentary behaviour variables.RESULTS:1,084 Australian adults responded to the survey. The majority of respondents did not meet the aerobic (n=756,70%) or strength (n=649,60%) components of the guidelines. The majority of respondents (n=609,58%) participated in low sedentary time (<9hr/day). CONCLUSION:Compared to previous studies and national data, the percentage of Australian adults meeting the strength component of the guidelines increased while the percentage meeting the aerobic and sedentary time components decreased. The reduction in activity and increase in sedentary time could be due to the enforcement of home confinement restrictions. It is important to provide opportunities for people to maintain activity during pandemics to avoid poor health outcomes.

Acute Changes in Physical Activity Associated With Home Confinement Due to Covid-19: a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study in a Collegiate Population in Greece

“…14 Another study on University students found a reduction in walking time 29 while other data show younger individuals participating in more sedentary time than older Australians during quarantine. 15 Of note, despite that the overall levels of PA decreased, self-reported weight remained stable, in the entire sample and in both genders. An increase of +0.5 kg in the 31+ age group is considered minimal.…”

“…Contrary to our findings, at least two other studies (in China and Australia) have shown that women participated in less and lower intensity PA than men during restrictions. 14,15 Although we lack vital insight that could help understanding the reasons behind the favorable change in PA among women in our sample, it can be speculated that socio-cultural conditions that are unique to Greece may have helped to set a window of opportunity in this particular population for getting involved in more exercise during the lockdown. Although, individual motives (pertaining to e.g., health concerns and body image) cannot be excluded, in this population, distance work or study and changed routines may have lifted some burden from their daily commitments allowing for more leisure time for activity and exercise.…”

“…2,6 Indeed, current evidence indicates that populations in different regions have faced difficulties maintaining at least the same levels of PA during home confinement. 13,14,15,16,17,18,19 As we have already entered an era of constant vigilance for the case of COVID-19, it is important to investigate the behavioural lifestyle responses of different populations in different settings in face of restrictions imposed by authorities around the globe. This knowledge may help draw some early conclusions in order to inform PA recommendations under confinement periods.…”

Identifikasi Sedentary Behaviour di Masa Pandemic Covid-19; Narrative Review

“…Aturan ketat untuk mengendalikan penyebaran SARS-CoV-2 juga diberlakukan di Australia yaitu dengan pembatasan pergerakan geografis, seperti perintah untuk tetap di rumah kecuali jika perlu pergi (misalnya untuk berbelanja atau berolahraga) dan perintah untuk tidak meninggalkan rumah untuk alasan apapun selain keadaan darurat bagi mereka yang diduga terjangkit SARS-CoV-2 (Kunstler, Slattery, Grundy, Goodwin, & Saeri, 2020).…”

The Positive Role of Tai Chi in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…However, these quarantine strategies have negatively affected the health of the general population and have resulted in a reduction of physical activity (PA) and contributed to a sedentary lifestyle. Indeed, current reports show that people of various ages have faced difficulties maintaining at least similar levels of PA during home confinement [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”