Physical Activity And Sitting Predict Changes In Bodyweight And Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic

There is evidence that the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to decreases in physical activity and greater sedentary behavior. This is problematic as being sufficiently physically active while minimizing sitting has numerous benefits on physical and mental health. PURPOSE: To assess perceived changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and the association of these variables with perceived changes in body weight and mental health during the same period. METHODS: Participants (N = 206, 21.0 ± 1.7 years old, n = 108 females) completed a survey assessing perceived changes in health and health behaviors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each item used a seven-point Likert scale ranging from 1 “strongly disagree” to 7 “strongly agree.” The first two items asked participants if, relative to before the pandemic, they perceived they were more physically active and sedentary (i.e., sitting) during the pandemic. The correlation between these two items was assessed. Then the correlation between each of these two items was separately assessed against perceived increases in bodyweight, stress, and overall worsening mental health. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation (r = -0.68, p < 0.001) between perceived changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior. Therefore, participants who indicated that they were not more physically active during the pandemic also reported greater sedentary behavior. Physical activity (r ≤ -0.19, p ≤ 0.01) and sedentary behavior (r ≥ 0.25, p ≤ 0.001) were also each significantly correlated with changes in bodyweight, stress, and worsening mental health. In other words, reporting less physical activity and more sedentary behavior during the pandemic was associated with greater weight gain and stress as well as worsening overall mental health. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic individuals who perceived that they had become less physically active also perceived increases in sedentary behavior. These less physically active and more sedentary individuals also reported worse outcomes for weight gain, stress, and overall mental health. It is possible that pandemic related decreases in physical activity and increases in sitting may have contributed to weight gain and negative mental health outcomes.