Changes in Physical Activity Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic in Individuals With Overweight and Obesity: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis With Historical Controls

Authors

Michael C Robertson
Che Young Lee
Ivan Haw-Chong Wu
Yue Liao
Margaret Raber
Nathan Parker
Thuan Le
Leticia Gatus
Karen M Basen-Engquist

Publication Date

4-1-2022

Journal

Journal of Behavioral Medicine

DOI

10.1007/s10865-021-00261-7

PMID

34698998

PMCID

PMC8546384

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

10-26-2021

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

COVID-19, Exercise, Humans, Interrupted Time Series Analysis, Obesity, Overweight, Pandemics

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate changes in physical activity patterns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with overweight and obesity who were participating in a school district worksite weight loss program. We conducted comparative design interrupted time series analyses on physical activity device (Fitbit) data from the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years (N = 211). We administered a questionnaire in 2020 to supplement device data. After the stay-at-home orders in 2020, participants tended to decrease their weekly step count (B = -1315.7, SE = 627.7, p = .045), decrease their weekly "Lightly active minutes" (B = -39.1, SE = 12.6, p = .007), and increase their weekly "Very active minutes" compared to their counterparts from the year before (B = 7.6, SE = 3.2, p = .020). Decreased motivation, gym closures, and safety concerns were cited as barriers to physical activity. Having more time and health consciousness were cited as facilitators of physical activity. The COVID-19 pandemic was related to changes in physical activity in both positive and negative ways, revealing opportunities to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in this population. More research is needed to determine optimal approaches to health promotion in the post-COVID-19 era.

Comments

Associated Data