The aftermath of the pandemic
How the Covid-19 pandemic affected physical activity, fitness, health, and body fat in first-year students in Norway
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13129804 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Chiara Feldhaus (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), Ingeborg Barth Vedøy (University of Inland Norway), Annette Løvheim Kleppang (0000-0002-3844-4745, University of Inland Norway), Silje Halvorsen Sveaas (0000-0003-2530-2921, University of Agder), Kjersti Karoline Danielsen (0000-0003-4098-756X, University of Agder), Sigbjørn Litleskare (0000-0001-8322-2837, University of South-Eastern Norway), Sella Aarrestad Provan (0000-0001-5442-902X, University of Inland Norway, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Pages | 1719951-1719951 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-11 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fspor.2025.1719951 |
| PMID | 41458105 |
| OpenAlex | W4417233202 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 17 |
Public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 included restricting physical activity (PA). Here we described the impact of pandemic restrictions and reduction in PA on physical fitness and health and body composition amongst first-year students, and the associations to body fat and total PA at the end of their first year. " On your own feet" is a longitudinal study exploring changes in lifestyle habits amongst first-year students. Questionnaires for assessment of perceived restriction, PA behaviour and fitness and health were administered at the start and end of the first year at university. Body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) and total PA (Actigraph®) were recorded at both time-points. In multivariable models we identified factors associated to body fat and total PA. We included 150 students aged 18-22 years, 53% of whom reported restrictions and 34% a reduction in PA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students reporting restrictions had comparable fitness, health, body composition and PA level at baseline and follow-up, compared to those without restrictions. Students with reduced PA less often reported "good" fitness (30% vs. 56%, p p = 0.046) and had higher mean body fat percentage (27% vs. 23%, p = 0.009) and lower total PA (314 vs. 420 cpm, p p = 0.005), while body composition and total PA were comparable. We concluded that students who report pandemic reduction in PA may need targeted interventions to improve fitness
Body Fat Percentage · Composition (language · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Longitudinal study · Pandemic · Physical activity · Physical fitness · Public health · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Nutrition and Health in Aging · Physical Activity and Health
Quantity and Quality of Exercise for Developing and Maintaining Cardiorespiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Neuromotor Fitness in Apparently Healthy Adults
Changes in weight, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and dietary intake during the transition to higher education
Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on University Students' Physical Activity Levels
Robust causal inference using directed acyclic graphs
Cohort Profile
Resilience in higher education students
Physical activity from childhood to adulthood
Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents
Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016
World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |