Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in England
Summary: Background: To limit the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020, the population of England was instructed to stay home, leaving only for essential shopping, health-care, work, or exercise. The impact on population activity behaviours is not clear. We describe changes in duration and types of act...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | The Lancet Regional Health. Europe |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776221002519 |
| _version_ | 1828147384466538496 |
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| author | Tessa Strain Stephen J. Sharp Andrew Spiers Helen Price Ciara Williams Carol Fraser Søren Brage Katrien Wijndaele Paul Kelly |
| author_facet | Tessa Strain Stephen J. Sharp Andrew Spiers Helen Price Ciara Williams Carol Fraser Søren Brage Katrien Wijndaele Paul Kelly |
| author_sort | Tessa Strain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: To limit the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020, the population of England was instructed to stay home, leaving only for essential shopping, health-care, work, or exercise. The impact on population activity behaviours is not clear. We describe changes in duration and types of activity undertaken by adults ≥16 years in England between March and May 2016-19 and 2020, by socio-demographic strata. Methods: Using nationally representative data collected between November 2015 and May 2020 by the Sport England Active Lives Surveys (n=726,257) we assessed trends in amount and type of non-occupational moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Using data from n=74,430 mid-April to mid-May respondents, we then estimated the odds ratios of reporting any activity in the four-week recall period in 2020 compared to 2016-19. Gamma regressions estimated the mean ratios (MR) of duration amongst those reporting any activity in 2020 compared to 2016-19. Findings: Population activity declined substantially after the restrictions were introduced. Compared to 2016-19 levels, the odds of reporting any activity in 2020 were 30% lower (95% confidence interval (CI) 26-34%). The largest declines were amongst non-white ethnicities, the youngest and oldest age groups, and the unemployed; no socio-demographic subgroup had higher odds. Amongst those undertaking activity, weekly duration was similar in the two periods (MR 0.99, 95%CI (0.96-1.01%)). The odds of participating in walking for leisure and gardening were 11% (6-16%) and 15% (9-21%) higher, respectively, whereas the odds for team and racket sport and walking for travel participation were 76% (73-79%) and 66% (64-68%) lower, respectively. Interpretation: Restrictions introduced in Spring 2020 likely reduced physical activity levels in England. The magnitude of the declines 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] and SB is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Cambridge (IS-BRC-1215-20014). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:00:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d1f8b67eacb40d0aedd647ae5841c4e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-7762 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:00:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Lancet Regional Health. Europe |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d1f8b67eacb40d0aedd647ae5841c4e2022-12-22T04:03:32ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Europe2666-77622022-01-0112100265Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in EnglandTessa Strain0Stephen J. Sharp1Andrew Spiers2Helen Price3Ciara Williams4Carol Fraser5Søren Brage6Katrien Wijndaele7Paul Kelly8MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK; Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, UKMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UKSport England, London, UKSport England, London, UKSport England, London, UKSport England, London, UKMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UKMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UKPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, UK; Corresponding author: Dr. Tessa Strain, University of Cambridge, MRC Epidemiology Unit, Addenbrookes Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.Summary: Background: To limit the spread of COVID-19 in March 2020, the population of England was instructed to stay home, leaving only for essential shopping, health-care, work, or exercise. The impact on population activity behaviours is not clear. We describe changes in duration and types of activity undertaken by adults ≥16 years in England between March and May 2016-19 and 2020, by socio-demographic strata. Methods: Using nationally representative data collected between November 2015 and May 2020 by the Sport England Active Lives Surveys (n=726,257) we assessed trends in amount and type of non-occupational moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Using data from n=74,430 mid-April to mid-May respondents, we then estimated the odds ratios of reporting any activity in the four-week recall period in 2020 compared to 2016-19. Gamma regressions estimated the mean ratios (MR) of duration amongst those reporting any activity in 2020 compared to 2016-19. Findings: Population activity declined substantially after the restrictions were introduced. Compared to 2016-19 levels, the odds of reporting any activity in 2020 were 30% lower (95% confidence interval (CI) 26-34%). The largest declines were amongst non-white ethnicities, the youngest and oldest age groups, and the unemployed; no socio-demographic subgroup had higher odds. Amongst those undertaking activity, weekly duration was similar in the two periods (MR 0.99, 95%CI (0.96-1.01%)). The odds of participating in walking for leisure and gardening were 11% (6-16%) and 15% (9-21%) higher, respectively, whereas the odds for team and racket sport and walking for travel participation were 76% (73-79%) and 66% (64-68%) lower, respectively. Interpretation: Restrictions introduced in Spring 2020 likely reduced physical activity levels in England. The magnitude of the declines 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] and SB is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Cambridge (IS-BRC-1215-20014).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776221002519AdultsPhysical ActivityCovid-19SurveillanceDomains |
| spellingShingle | Tessa Strain Stephen J. Sharp Andrew Spiers Helen Price Ciara Williams Carol Fraser Søren Brage Katrien Wijndaele Paul Kelly Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in England The Lancet Regional Health. Europe Adults Physical Activity Covid-19 Surveillance Domains |
| title | Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in England |
| title_full | Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in England |
| title_fullStr | Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in England |
| title_full_unstemmed | Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in England |
| title_short | Population level physical activity before and during the first national COVID-19 lockdown: A nationally representative repeat cross-sectional study of 5 years of Active Lives data in England |
| title_sort | population level physical activity before and during the first national covid 19 lockdown a nationally representative repeat cross sectional study of 5 years of active lives data in england |
| topic | Adults Physical Activity Covid-19 Surveillance Domains |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776221002519 |
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