Pediatric Physical Activity Decreased 17 Minutes During the Pandemic

A recent publication found that adolescents' physical activity decreased by 17 minutes during the covid-19 pandemic. Previous studies have already noted a general reduction in physical activity and an increase in sedentary behavior throughout the pandemic.  

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ages six and up engage in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise most days of the week. They also note that only 25% of children incorporate adequate physical activity into their routine.  

The benefits of physical activity are vast. According to the CDC, regular physical activity can improve cognition, manage weight, reduce disease risk, and improve mental health.  

“It is well documented that physical activity confers numerous physical and mental health benefits for children and adolescents. Prominent among these include motor development, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, maintenance of a healthy weight and level of adiposity, bone health, enhanced cognition, brain health, emotional regulation, mood, and quality of life.”  

“Moreover, stable levels of physical activity during childhood and adolescence are known to predict engagement across the life course,” stated the researchers in the JAMA publication.  

The investigators looked at 22 studies published between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2022. 

They found that, during the pandemic, there was a 20% decline in the duration of physical activity. High-intensity workout duration saw a more significant decline with a 32% decrease.  

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity declined by 28%, translating to a 17 minute decrease in physical activity.  

Furthermore, they found that, as the time between pre- and post-assessments increased, so did the magnitude of the exercise reduction.   

In the publication, the researchers postulate that “the cumulative toll of the pandemic may have compounded over time to negatively affect children and adolescents, including their levels of physical activity.” 

The conclusions in this publication may foreshadow worsening health outcomes in pediatric patients should they not return to regular physical activity. The clinicians from this study believe that a return to physical activity will not accompany lifted health restrictions.  

Instead, they recommend implementing public health initiatives encouraging physical activity. 

“In terms of practice implications, research on physical activity promotion and maintenance during childhood consistently shows that multi-component, multi-modal, and multi-outcome interventions work best. Therefore, public health campaigns can have a greater effect if they are child-centered, target a variety of physical activity modalities, and incorporate the family unit and wider community as co-constructors of lasting physical activity behavior change,” concluded the researchers in the study.  

Whether or not a public health initiative is implemented, patients and parents must remain vigilant of the risk associated with a reduction in physical activity. Regular visits to a child’s pediatrician are essential to determining the appropriate activity levels based on the individual patient.