Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours from Before to During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2021 Jun 30

PMID 34192010

Citations 547

Authors

Stephanie Stockwell

Mike Trott

Mark Tully

Jae Shin

Yvonne Barnett

Laurie Butler

Daragh McDermott

Felipe Schuch

Lee Smith

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: In March 2020, several countries banned unnecessary outdoor activities during COVID-19, commonly called 'lockdowns. These lockdowns have the potential to impact associated levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Given the numerous health outcomes associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviour, the aim of this review was to summarise literature that investigated differences in physical activity and sedentary behaviour before vs during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Design Data Sources And Eligibility Criteria: Electronic databases were searched from November 2019 to October 2020 using terms and synonyms relating to physical activity, sedentary behaviour and COVID-19. The coprimary outcomes were changes in physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour captured via device-based measures or self-report tools. Risk of bias was measured using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results: Sixty six articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review (total n=86 981). Changes in physical activity were reported in 64 studies, with the majority of studies reporting decreases in physical activity and increases in sedentary behaviours during their respective lockdowns across several populations, including children and patients with a variety of medical conditions.

Conclusion: Given the numerous physical and mental benefits of increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviour, public health strategies should include the creation and implementation of interventions that promote safe physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour should other lockdowns occur.

Citing Articles

Longitudinal study of central sensitization and chronic low back pain in a Japanese cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Murata S, Hashizume H, Mure K, Oka H, Inoue S, Kanno S Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):8012.

PMID: 40055490 PMC: 11889225. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-93178-z.

Did the pandemic change lifestyle behaviours in Italy? An interrupted time series analysis on the four main NCDs behavioural risk factors from 2008 to 2023.

Asta F, Minardi V, Contoli B, Possenti V, Casigliani V, Masocco M BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):799.

PMID: 40016716 PMC: 11869655. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-22062-2.

Mental Health in Young Adult University Students During COVID-19 Lockdown: Associations with Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors and Sleep Quality.

Silva G, Estima F, Silva A, Mota J, Martins C, Aires L Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 22(2).

PMID: 40003467 PMC: 11855066. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22020241.

Impact of Physical Activity on Health Behavior Change and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Epidemic Among Chinese Adults: China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Yin W, Sifre-Acosta N, Chamorro D, Chowdhury S, Hu N Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 22(2).

PMID: 40003427 PMC: 11855935. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22020201.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Risk of New Chronic Conditions: Insights from a Longitudinal Population-Based Study.

De Ridder D, Uppal A, Rouzinov S, Lamour J, Zaballa M, Baysson H Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 22(2).

PMID: 40003393 PMC: 11855532. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22020166.

References

Maugeri G, Castrogiovanni P, Battaglia G, Pippi R, DAgata V, Palma A . The impact of physical activity on psychological health during Covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon. 2020; 6(6):e04315. PMC: 7311901. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04315. View

Rogers N, Waterlow N, Brindle H, Enria L, Eggo R, Lees S . Behavioral Change Towards Reduced Intensity Physical Activity Is Disproportionately Prevalent Among Adults With Serious Health Issues or Self-Perception of High Risk During the UK COVID-19 Lockdown. Front Public Health. 2020; 8:575091. PMC: 7554527. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.575091. View

Schuch F, Vancampfort D, Firth J, Rosenbaum S, Ward P, Silva E . Physical Activity and Incident Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Am J Psychiatry. 2018; 175(7):631-648. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17111194. View

Gilic B, Ostojic L, Corluka M, Volaric T, Sekulic D . Contextualizing Parental/Familial Influence on Physical Activity in Adolescents before and during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Analysis. Children (Basel). 2020; 7(9). PMC: 7552694. DOI: 10.3390/children7090125. View

Ruiz-Roso M, Knott-Torcal C, Matilla-Escalante D, Garcimartin A, Sampedro-Nunez M, Davalos A . COVID-19 Lockdown and Changes of the Dietary Pattern and Physical Activity Habits in a Cohort of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Nutrients. 2020; 12(8). PMC: 7468739. DOI: 10.3390/nu12082327. View

Srivastav A, Sharma N, Samuel A . Impact of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) lockdown on physical activity and energy expenditure among physiotherapy professionals and students using web-based open E-survey sent through WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram messengers. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020; 9:78-84. PMC: 7358172. DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2020.07.003. View

Assaloni R, Pellino V, Puci M, Ferraro O, Lovecchio N, Girelli A . Coronavirus disease (Covid-19): How does the exercise practice in active people with type 1 diabetes change? A preliminary survey. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2020; 166:108297. PMC: 7332427. DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108297. View

Dwyer M, Pasini M, De Dominicis S, Righi E . Physical activity: Benefits and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2020; 30(7):1291-1294. PMC: 7323175. DOI: 10.1111/sms.13710. View

Sahlqvist S, Song Y, Ogilvie D . Is active travel associated with greater physical activity? The contribution of commuting and non-commuting active travel to total physical activity in adults. Prev Med. 2012; 55(3):206-11. PMC: 3824070. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.06.028. View

10.

de Haas M, Faber R, Hamersma M . How COVID-19 and the Dutch 'intelligent lockdown' change activities, work and travel behaviour: Evidence from longitudinal data in the Netherlands. Transp Res Interdiscip Perspect. 2021; 6:100150. PMC: 7284275. DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2020.100150. View

11.

Castellini G, Cassioli E, Rossi E, Innocenti M, Gironi V, Sanfilippo G . The impact of COVID-19 epidemic on eating disorders: A longitudinal observation of pre versus post psychopathological features in a sample of patients with eating disorders and a group of healthy controls. Int J Eat Disord. 2020; 53(11):1855-1862. PMC: 7461528. DOI: 10.1002/eat.23368. View

12.

Mon-Lopez D, de la Rubia Riaza A, Galan M, Roman I . The Impact of Covid-19 and the Effect of Psychological Factors on Training Conditions of Handball Players. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(18). PMC: 7558666. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186471. View

13.

Di Corrado D, Magnano P, Muzii B, Coco M, Guarnera M, De Lucia S . Effects of social distancing on psychological state and physical activity routines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sport Sci Health. 2020; 16(4):619-624. PMC: 7517049. DOI: 10.1007/s11332-020-00697-5. View

14.

Branley-Bell D, Talbot C . Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and UK lockdown on individuals with experience of eating disorders. J Eat Disord. 2020; 8:44. PMC: 7444862. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-020-00319-y. View

15.

Galle F, Sabella E, Da Molin G, De Giglio O, Caggiano G, Di Onofrio V . Understanding Knowledge and Behaviors Related to CoViD-19 Epidemic in Italian Undergraduate Students: The EPICO Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(10). PMC: 7277609. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103481. View

16.

Cancello R, Soranna D, Zambra G, Zambon A, Invitti C . Determinants of the Lifestyle Changes during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Residents of Northern Italy. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(17). PMC: 7504331. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176287. View

17.

Pellegrini M, Ponzo V, Rosato R, Scumaci E, Goitre I, Benso A . Changes in Weight and Nutritional Habits in Adults with Obesity during the "Lockdown" Period Caused by the COVID-19 Virus Emergency. Nutrients. 2020; 12(7). PMC: 7400808. DOI: 10.3390/nu12072016. View

18.

Liberati A, Altman D, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche P, Ioannidis J . The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med. 2009; 6(7):e1000100. PMC: 2707010. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100. View

19.

Schuch F, Stubbs B, Meyer J, Heissel A, Zech P, Vancampfort D . Physical activity protects from incident anxiety: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Depress Anxiety. 2019; 36(9):846-858. DOI: 10.1002/da.22915. View

20.

Castaneda-Babarro A, Arbillaga-Etxarri A, Gutierrez-Santamaria B, Coca A . Physical Activity Change during COVID-19 Confinement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(18). PMC: 7558959. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186878. View