Newsletter #149: Exercise and the Pandemic 🏋️
Happy weekend friends, and welcome to the latest edition of the humanOS newsletter!
This week, we examined how the coronavirus pandemic has affected physical activity, and how changes in physical activity have impacted mental health. Large prospective cohort studies have shown that physical activity is linked to reduced risk of depression, and ceasing exercise can result in increased depressive symptoms.
But research over the past year has shown that measures to control the spread of the coronavirus have led to decreased physical activity, as well as less exposure to nature. And you can imagine that this may not be the greatest thing for our collective mental health.
So, does this mean that those who manage to maintain their physical activity patterns throughout the course of the pandemic (or through any prolonged crisis for that matter) might also sustain good mental health?
Scroll down to learn more! 👇🏼
This Week’s Research Highlights
🏃 Physical activity levels substantially decreased in countries affected by COVID-19.
Researchers performed a multinational survey in 14 countries (n=13503), in which they inquired about leisure and occupational physical activity before and during pandemic-related restrictions, as well as duration and intensity of physical activity.
Compared to before the pandemic, overall self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity declined by 41%, and vigorous physical activity declined by 42.2%. Compliance with WHO guidelines regarding physical activity decreased by about 20% in the studied participants. If this pattern were to be sustained, it could contribute to the ever-rising medical expenses associated with inactivity. To illustrate the potential economic toll, the researchers calculated that the additional healthcare costs for the 3104 individuals who no longer met the physical activity guidelines during restrictions would translate to between $2,172,000 and 4,460,448 per year of continued inactivity.
🧠 Decreases in physical activity due to the pandemic may be linked to higher rates of depression.
Researchers examined biometric and survey data from multiple cohorts of American college students, who enrolled in the study from February 2019 through July 2020 (n=682). Participants answered repeated surveys about their well-being and time use, and they also received Fitbits to track their activity patterns. At the onset of the pandemic, average steps dropped from ~10000 down to ~4600 steps per day. Furthermore, screen time more than doubled, and time spent socializing declined by more than half. Meanwhile, over the course of the pandemic (March-July 2020), the proportion of participants experiencing depression rose up to 46-61% - a 90% rise in depression rates compared to the same population immediately before the pandemic. The researchers found that individuals who experienced declines of one to two hours of physical activity per day were at the greatest risk of developing depression. Co-author Sally Sadoff notes, “...our results clearly show that those who maintained physical exercise throughout the pandemic were the most resilient and least likely to suffer from depression."
🌱 Outdoor recreation in particular may buffer the negative psychological impact of the pandemic on adolescents.
Researchers conducted a nationally representative survey of American youth aged 10-18 between April 30 and June 15 2020 (n=624). Surveys focused on frequency of outdoor activities before and during the pandemic, and changes in subjective well-being.
The surveys showed that 52% of respondents reported declines in subjective well-being during the pandemic (kind of surprised that it’s not higher to be honest), and 64% reported that participation in outdoor activity had dropped as well. Analysis of the data revealed that children who had high rates of outdoor play before the pandemic were more resilient to changes in well-being, and those who were able to maintain their outdoor activity levels during the pandemic showed subjective well-being that was similar to before the pandemic. According to lead author Brent Jackson: "Kids who were able to continue participating in outdoor play and nature-based activities had subjective well-being levels that were similar to what they were before the pandemic, but kids who weren't able to participate saw much greater declines."
Question of the Week
🤔 How has the pandemic affected your physical activity, and is there anything you can learn from this experience to ensure that you are able to sustain a healthy lifestyle even when major obstacles come your way?
Podcasts We Loved This Week
- Alex Hutchinson: Translating the science of endurance and extreme human performance. Via The Drive.
- Michael Grandner: Measurement or intervention? The role of sleep technology. Via Sleep Junkies.
- Saad Omer: The global COVID-19 supply problem. Via Science Friday.
Products We're Interested In
Bitchin’ Sauce
This is a pretty basic creamy sauce made with almonds, garlic, and lemon, but it is very tasty and versatile. I like to put it on sweet potatoes but you could put it on a lot of different foods, or use it as a dip for veggies or whatever crunchy snack you like. I received it in a produce box, but you can also order it online, or you may be able to find it in stores in your neck of the woods.
