Estimating changes in physical behavior during lockdowns using accelerometry‐based simulations in a large UK cohort

Speirs, Craig; Granat, Malcolm; Stamatakis, Emmanuel; Hamer, Mark

Abstract

AbstractTo contain the recent COVID‐19 outbreak, restrictions have been imposed, which has limited outdoor activity. These physical behavior changes can have serious health implications, but there is little objective information quantifying these changes. This study aimed to estimate the change in physical behavior levels during full lockdown conditions using objective data collected from a thigh‐worn activity monitor. Data used were from 6492 individuals in the 1970 British Cohort Study, collected between 2016 and 2018. Using walking bout characteristics, days were classified as either "indoor only" (n = 861), "indoor and exercise" (n = 167), and "outdoor active" (n = 31 934). When compared to "outdoor active" days, “indoor only” days had 6590 fewer steps per day (2320 vs 8876, p < 0.001), a longer sedentary time (1.5 h, p < 0.001), longer lying time (1.4 h, p < 0.001) and shorter standing (1.9 h, p < 0.001) and stepping (1.3 h, p < 0.001) times. The "indoor and exercise" days had a smaller number of steps compared to "outdoor active" (7932 vs 8876, p < 0.05). There is a strong relationship between reduced daily stepping, and increased sedentary time, with a range of poor health outcomes. This has important implications for public health policy and messaging during pandemics.

Citation

Speirs, C., Granat, M., Stamatakis, E., & Hamer, M. (2021). Estimating changes in physical behavior during lockdowns using accelerometry‐based simulations in a large UK cohort. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 31(12), 2221-2229. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14032

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 30, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2021
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Aug 20, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 11, 2022
• Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
• Print ISSN: 0905-7188
• Electronic ISSN: 1600-0838
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 2221-2229
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14032
• Keywords: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14032
• Related Public URLs: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-0838
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: VoR ** From Crossref journal articles via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: pissn 0905-7188; eissn 1600-0838 **History: issued 11-08-2021; published_online 11-08-2021 **License for this article: starting on 11-08-2021, , http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor; Access Information : This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Speirs, C., Granat, M., Stamatakis, E. and Hamer, M. (2021), Estimating changes in physical behaviour during lockdowns using accelerometry-based simulations in a large UK cohort. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14032. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.