Changes to physical activity behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and their associated factors: a cross sectional survey of Mexican women
COVID-19 has brought about unprecedented changes to our society. The pandemic has affected our lives in ways we never thought possible. The virus has not only impacted our physical health, but also our mental, social, and economic well-being. One such area that has been significantly impacted by the pandemic is physical activity behavior. A recent study conducted by BMC Women’s Health on Mexican women has shed light on the changes in physical activity behavior during this pandemic and their associated factors.
To our knowledge, this is the first paper assessing the COVID-19 pandemic’s related changes to physical activity behaviors and its associated factors among Mexican women. The study found that prior to the pandemic, only 19.5% of Mexican women met the physical activity recommendations established by the World Health Organization. Lack of time and fatigue were identified as primary barriers to physical activity behaviors among working women. Obese and overweight women were also found to be less active during this period.
The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation with more than half of the participants surveyed reporting reduced physical activity levels. Similar findings were observed in other studies conducted globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced physical activity levels worldwide despite the guidance provided by the World Health Organization on how to stay active while at home.
Several factors were identified to contribute to reduced physical activity during the pandemic. These factors include pandemic restrictions, being overweight or obese, lower self-perceived functioning, and lower education status. Care required by non-hospitalized persons infected with COVID-19 and young children due to pandemic restrictions, along with their usual professional and domestic work, increased their workloads. This potentially added barriers for physical activity engagement. People living with disabilities also faced numerous barriers to participate in sports, exercise, and physical activity behaviors even before the pandemic. The pre-existing gap in access to physical activity has widened during the pandemic, further limiting their engagement.
Reduced physical activity behavior was found to be strongly associated with poorer self-perceived physical and mental health self-perception, and vice versa. Similar findings were observed in studies conducted globally, suggesting that maintaining some level of physical activity can improve mental health scores among women.
Key Takeaways
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes to physical activity behaviors among Mexican women. Factors that contribute to reduced physical activity behaviors include pandemic restrictions, being overweight or obese, lower self-perceived functioning, and lower education status. Care required by non-hospitalized persons infected with COVID-19 and young children has also increased the workload of women, adding to barriers for physical activity engagement. Further, people living with disabilities faced numerous barriers to participate in physical activity, limiting their engagement.
Related Facts
– Prior to the pandemic, only 19.5% of Mexican women met the physical activity recommendations established by the World Health Organization.
– More than half of the participants surveyed reported reduced physical activity levels during the pandemic.
– People living with disabilities faced numerous barriers to participate in sports, exercise, and physical activity behaviors even before the pandemic, further limiting their engagement.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant challenges to our physical activity behaviors. Mexican women faced several barriers to engaging in physical activity, including pandemic restrictions, being overweight or obese, lower self-perceived functioning, and lower education status. Care required by non-hospitalized persons infected with COVID-19 and young children increased the workload of women, further limiting their engagement in physical activity. People living with disabilities also faced significant challenges, limiting their engagement in physical activity. This study underscores the need for tailored interventions to improve access and engagement in physical activity for vulnerable populations and the general public during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
