Impact of Activity Monitoring on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Body Weight during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jacob E. Barkley, Gregory Farnell, Brianna Boyko, Brooke Turner and Ryan Wiet
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Jacob E. Barkley: School of Health Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
Gregory Farnell: Department of Exercise Science and Sports Studies, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
Brianna Boyko: Department of Exercise Science and Sports Studies, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
Brooke Turner: Department of Exercise Science and Sports Studies, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH 44118, USA
Ryan Wiet: School of Health Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-9

Abstract: Decreases in individuals’ physical activity and increases in sedentary behavior and bodyweight have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study assessed the ability of physical activity monitoring, which may promote physical activity and discourage sedentary behavior, to mitigate these negative outcomes. An evaluation of university samples ( N = 404, 40.5 ± 15.4 years) of self-reported physical activity, sedentary behavior, and bodyweight prior to the closure of campus due to the pandemic in March of 2020 and again at the time of the survey administration (May–June 2020) during pandemic-related restrictions was performed. Participants also reported whether they did ( n = 172) or did not ( n = 232) regularly use physical activity monitoring technology. While physical activity was unchanged during the pandemic ( p ? 0.15), participants significantly increased sitting by 67.8 ± 156.6 min/day and gained 0.64 ± 3.5 kg from pre-campus to post-campus closure ( p < 0.001). However, the use of activity monitoring did not moderate these changes. In conclusion, while physical activity was not affected, participants reported significant increases in sedentary behavior and bodyweight during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes occurred regardless of whether participants regularly used physical activity monitoring or not.

Keywords: exercise; sitting; coronavirus; fitness tracking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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