Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic stay at home order and social isolation on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior in Brazilian adults

• Published in: Einstein (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 19; p. eAE6156
• Main Authors: Botero, João Paulo, Farah, Breno Quintella, Correia, Marilia de Almeida, Lofrano-Prado, Mara Cristina, Cucato, Gabriel Grizzo, Shumate, Grace, Ritti-Dias, Raphael Mendes, Prado, Wagner Luiz do
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; Coronavirus; Coronavirus infections; COVID-19; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Physical Distancing; Physical inactivity; Quarantine; Sedentary Behavior; Sedentary lifestyle; Social Isolation; Special; Surveys and Questionnaires; Brazil; Sedentary behavior; Infecções por coronavírus; Sedentarismo; Quarantine; Physical inactivity; Inatividade física; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Coronavirus infections; Coronavírus; Sedentary lifestyle; Comportamento sedentário; Quarentena
• ISSN: 1679-4508; 2317-6385; 2317-6385
• DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2021AE6156

To investigate the impact of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior among Brazilians residents aged ≥18 years. An online survey was distributed through a social media platform between May 5 and 17, 2020. Participants completed a structured questionnaire in Google Forms, which assessed the physical activity level and sedentary behavior of adults in Brazil during the pandemic. Age (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99), chronic disease (OR: 1.29; 95%CI: 1.03-1.63), physical inactivity before the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (OR: 2.20; 95%CI: 1.78-2.72) and overweight (OR: 1.34; 95%CI: 1.09-1.65) showed higher risk of impact on physical activity levels. Increased sitting time was associated with older individuals (OR: 0.97; 95%CI: 0.96-0.98), inactivity (OR: 1.51; 95%CI: 1.16-1.96), chronic disease (OR: 1.65; 95%CI: 1.23-2.22), higher number of days in social isolation (OR: 1.01; 95%CI: 1.00-1.02) and higher schooling levels (OR: 1.87; 95%CI: 1.26-2.78). Our results demonstrated that advanced age, chronic disease and physical inactivity before social isolation had a greater risk of impact on reduced physical activity levels and increased sitting time during the coronavirus 2019 disease pandemic.