Population levels and types of physical activity before and after a national Covid-19 lockdown
Oral Presentation B1.1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.479Keywords:
Adults, Physical Activity, Covid-19, Surveillance, DomainsAbstract
Background: To limit the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020, individuals in England were instructed to stay home, leaving only for essential shopping, health-care, work, or exercise. The effects on population activity levels are not clear. Purpose: To describe changes in levels and types of activity undertaken by adults ≥16 years in England in the first month of restrictions compared to that period in 2016-19. Methods: Using nationally representative data from n=74,430 mid-April to mid-May respondents to the Sport England Active Lives Surveys 2016-2020, we used multivariable-adjusted logistic regressions to estimate the odds ratios (OR) of reporting any non-occupational moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the four-week recall period in 2020 compared to 2016-19. Gamma regressions estimated the mean ratios (MR) of minutes/week amongst those reporting any activity in 2020 compared to 2016-19. Results: The odds of reporting any activity were 30% (95% confidence interval (CI) 26-34%) lower in 2020 than 2016-19. The largest differences were amongst non-white ethnicities, younger age groups, and the unemployed; no socio-demographic subgroup had higher odds. MRs amongst those undertaking activity mostly suggested stable minutes/week, except for a decrease in younger adults (e.g. 16-24 years 0.80 (95%CI 0.72-0.88)), and an increase in older adults (e.g. 75-84 years 1.30 (95%CI 1.17-1.45)) in 2020 versus 2016-19. Walking for leisure and gardening increased; team sport and walking for travel decreased. Conclusions: Restrictions introduced in Spring 2020 may have reduced physical activity levels in England. Impacts were not uniform by demographic groups or by activity type, which future policies should consider. Funding: TS, KW, SJS, and SB are supported by UK Medical Research Council [grant numbers MC_UU_00006/4 and MC_UU_12015/3]. Declaration of interests: AS, HP, CW, and CF are employees of Sport England, an arms-length body of government responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport and getting more people active across England. It is funded by the UK Government and the National Lottery.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Tessa Strain, Katrien Wijndaele, Søren Brage, Stephen Sharp, Andrew Spiers, Helen Price, Ciara Williams, Carol Fraser, Paul Kelly
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