Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Amid Confinement: The BKSQ-COVID-19 Project

Mahmoud A Alomari,¹ Omar F Khabour,² Karem H Alzoubi<sup>3

1</sup>Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; ²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; ³Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

Correspondence: Mahmoud A Alomari Department of Physical Education
Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
Email [email protected]

Background: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has compelled implementing confinement measure across the globe. These measures can potentially lead to many changes in lifestyle. However, no studies examined the effect of COVID-19-induced confinement on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB).
Methods: During April and May of 2020, the current study surveyed changes in PA and SB induced by COVID-19 confinement.
Results: The participants of the study were 1844. Among the participants who were regularly involved in PA, the majority (41.8– 42.2%) of the participants reported a “decrease” (p< 0.05) in walking, jogging, and sports while the majority (46.3– 53.1%) reported a “no change” (p< 0.05) in swimming, cycling, and weight lifting. With regard to the SB, most of the participants reported an “increase” in watching TV (72.3%), using electronics (82.7%), and logging to social media (81.9%). Additionally, gender, job type, obesity, and being worried to contract the disease were associated (p< 0.05) with changes in PA. On the other hand, age, gender, obesity, job type and income were related (p< 0.05) to changes in SB.
Conclusion: Results of the current study might enhance knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle, particularly PA and SB. Subsequently, it can also be used to establish strategies to enhance engagement in activities during the current and future pandemics.

Keywords: physical activity, sedentary behavior, confinement, COVID-19, pandemic