Changes in physical activity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with overweight and obesity: an interrupted time series analysis with historical controls

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

doi:10.1007/s10865-021-00261-7

Changes in physical activity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with overweight and obesity: an interrupted time series analysis with historical controls

J Behav Med. 2022 Apr;45(2):186-196. doi: 10.1007/s10865-021-00261-7. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Authors

Michael C Robertson^{1

2}, Che Young Lee¹, Ivan Haw-Chong Wu³, Yue Liao⁴, Margaret Raber^{1

5}, Nathan Parker⁶, Thuan Le¹, Leticia Gatus⁷, Karen M Basen-Engquist⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
² Department of Nutrition, Metabolism & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
³ Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St., Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
⁴ Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at Arlington, 411 S Nedderman Dr, Arlington, TX, 76010, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
⁶ Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA.
⁷ Ambulatory Operations, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcomb Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
⁸ Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. kbasenen@mdanderson.org.

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; Interrupted time series analysis; Obesity; Physical activity.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

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

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding