Abstract
Background: High school education took place in the form of distance learning during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide, including Hungary. Decreased physical activity and an increase in inactive behaviours may lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Aim: Our study targeted changes in physical activity (aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening) and screen time in adolescents and young adults during the pandemic. Methods: High school students were interviewed in 66 public schools in 37 Hungarian cities (N = 2508). Survey items on physical activity and screen time were derived from the WHO Health Behaviour of School-aged Children Survey and the Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A 2 × 2 factorial ANCOVA was used to test the effects of gender (male vs. female) and/or age (adolescents vs. young adults) on the reported changes in physical activity and screen time before and during lockdown (covariate: BMI Z-score). Results: The majority of the cohort indicated less physical activity. Aerobic and muscle-strengthening type of exercises significantly decreased, and screen time increased during distance education. Male individuals showed a higher decrease in the level of aerobic exercise, and young adults reported a higher increase in the time spent in front of the screen.
Highlights
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has overall health, social and economic consequences
Our findings show a decrease in Aerobic Exercise (AE) and Muscle Strengthening (MS) type exercises during the COVID-19 distance education in the samples in comparison with pre-distance education
Results from Brazilian and Spanish researchers show that the weekly frequency of min of moderate to high intensity physical activity (MVPA) was significantly reduced in COVID-19 lockdown compared to pre lockdown [20]
Summary
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has overall health, social and economic consequences. The pandemic has disrupted normal daily routines worldwide: including attendance teaching among children and adolescents, and across all age groups, depending on the degree of vulnerability [1]. The COVID-19 restrictions have completely changed the daily behaviour of individuals worldwide in 2020, including young people of Hungary. Under the measures introduced on 26 November 2020, a digital timetable has been introduced in secondary education from grade 9 in Hungary. Educational institutions were instructed to suspend in person class attendance and switch to online e-learning and education. Students were home-bound and digital class attendance, including Physical. High school education took place in the form of distance learning during. Decreased physical activity and an increase in inactive behaviours may lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
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