Has COVID-19 knocked us onto our backsides?
Researchers study pandemic's effects on physical activity and sedentary behavior

Date:
October 6, 2020
Source:
Kent State University
Summary:
Researchers sought to examine the impact of pandemic-related changes
upon physical activity and sedentary behavior, specifically sitting,
across the university population.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most universities across the United
States transitioned from face-to-face classes to remote learning, closed campuses and sent students home this past spring. Such changes, coupled
with social distancing guidelines, have altered social interactions and
limited our access to fitness facilities, parks and gymnasiums. This
is concerning as positive social interaction and access to exercise
facilities both promote physical activity. Recently, a group of Kent
State University researchers sought to examine the impact of these pandemic-related changes upon physical activity and sedentary behavior, specifically sitting, across the university population.


==========================================================================
Kent State's College of Education, Health and Human Services professors
Jacob Barkley, Ph.D., Andrew Lepp, Ph.D., and Ellen Glickman, Ph.D., along
with current and former Kent State doctoral students Greg Farnell, Ph.D.,
Jake Beiting, Ryan Wiet and Bryan Dowdell, Ph.D., assessed the impact of
the COVID- 19 pandemic on physical activity and sedentary behavior. More
than 400 college students, faculty, staff and administrators reported
their typical physical activity and sedentary behavior before the
COVID-19 pandemic and after the transition to remote learning and the
closure of campus.

In this before-and-after comparison, participants reported nearly
eight hours more sitting per week after transitioning from face-to-face
classes to remote learning. Changes in physical activity were not so straightforward. Those participants who were not highly active before
the pandemic actually increased physical activity after the closure of
campus and the transition to remote learning, while participants who
were highly active before the pandemic experienced a decrease in overall physical during the pandemic.

"It appears that the participants who were most physically active before
the pandemic may have been the most negatively affected," Barkley
said. "This makes sense as these active individuals are more likely
to utilize the fitness facilities that were closed when the pandemic
hit. However, the increases in physical activity in participants who
were less active before the pandemic were surprising. Perhaps the
elimination of a daily commute left them with more time for physical
activity. Or perhaps, they started walking just to get out of the house
for a bit. Independent of the changes in physical activity, the sample-
wide increase in sitting by over an hour per day is concerning as excess sitting is associated with a variety of negative health outcomes,
such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even a greater risk
of dying earlier." The authors suggest that while many, like those
on university campuses, experienced and may continue to experience
challenging, pandemic-related changes to their daily routines, it is
important that we all work to maintain positive health behaviors despite
these challenges. The Kent State researchers recommend the following:
* Try to minimize sitting for extended periods of time, and when
possible,
add in some exercise at home or outside.

* For those who are still working or taking classes remotely, try to
incorporate a standing desk into your routine and/or plan breaks
where you get up and move away from your computer. During those
breaks, try to do some light activity, like taking a walk.

* Breaking up your sedentary activity by adding some physical
activity will
not only benefit your physical health; it can improve cognition,
productivity and reduce stress.

"There are likely lots of us that could use some stress relief right
now," Barkley said. "Getting up and moving can provide just that."
The Kent State study, titled "The Acute Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic
on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in University Students and Employees," is published in the International Journal of Exercise Science.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Kent_State_University. Original
written by Jacob Barkley.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jacob E. Barkley, Andrew Lepp, Ellen Glickman, Gregory S. Farnell,
Jake
Beiting, Ryan Wiet, Bryan Dowdell. The Acute Effects of the COVID-19
Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in University
Students and Employees. International Journal of Exercise Science,
2020; 13 (5): 1326-1339 [abstract] ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201006091234.htm

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