Abstract
<strong>Objective:</strong> To determine the effect of an innovative, online-based intervention, addressing the possible decline of physical activity (PA) and increase of sedentary behavior (SB) during COVID-19 stay at home restrictions in Switzerland. <strong>Methods:</strong> This study investigated the effect of a two-week, social cognitive theory based, online-video moderate to vigorous (MV)PA or SB intervention on MVPA and SB behaviour and intention via a 3 group by 2 time point parallel randomized controlled trial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults (≥18 yo) were recruited over the internet between April 10th and April 19th 2020 (n = 129; 75.2% female; mean age = 29.0 [SD 11.8] years). Both intervention groups received five videos targeting either SB for the SB group or MVPA for the MVPA group and were compared to an attention control group (fruit and vegetable consumption). It was hypothesized that MVPA time and intention would increase for the MVPA group and the SB group would outperform control on SB behaviour and intention indicators. <strong>Results:</strong> No significant interactions were found for the MVPA group (n = 41) versus control (n = 40). Only one significant interaction was measured for the SB group (n = 48; intention of active breaks F = (2,114) = 5.84, p = 0.004, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.09). Although mostly non-significant and small effects, the MVPA group showed results pointing in the hypothesized direction on all PA indicators and the SB on all SB indicators, respectively. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Considering this study’s limitations (e.g. small intervention dose), video-based online PA and SB interventions seem promising and feasible. This approach is appropriate for COVID-19 and other stay at home situations.
Highlights
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has positive effects on cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal fitness, cognition, weight management, diabetes mellitus, some cancers, obesity, bone as well as joint diseases, and depression (2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, 2018; Warburton et al, 2006)
A recent study assessing PA in U.S adults during the first month of COVID-19 found a significant reduction of vigorous intensity (37% decrease), moderate intensity (47% decrease) PA and walking intensity (33% decrease) in early vs. pre COVID-19 period (Dunton et al, 2020). Overall these findings indicate a negative impact of COVID-19 on PA
At the end of the pre-survey session participants were randomly assigned via a computer algorithm with allocation ratio of one third to one of two intervention groups or an attention control group
Summary
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has positive effects on cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal fitness, cognition, weight management, diabetes mellitus, some cancers, obesity, bone as well as joint diseases, and depression (2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, 2018; Warburton et al, 2006). Despite the MVPA benefits, in Switzerland, 24% of adults do not meet the guidelines of 150 minutes of MVPA or 75 minutes of vigorous PA per week (Swiss Federal Statistical Office, 2019), whereas 27.5% globally do not meet these WHO guidelines (Guthold et al, 2018). In terms of SB in Switzerland, 48% self-report sitting >6 h/day and the longer the SB phases are the less PA breaks are made (Swiss Federal Statistical Office, 2019). In Europe on average >5 h/day is spent sitting (Bennie et al, 2013)
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