Early Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in U.S. Children

Background: COVID-19 restrictions such as closure of schools and parks, and the cancellation of youth sports and activity classes around the U.S may prevent children from achieving recommended levels of physical activity. Method: Parents of U.S. children (ages 5-13) completed an online survey between April 25-May 16, 2020 assessing their child’s physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB), perceived changes in PA and SB, and locations for PA. Results: Children (N = 211) were 53% female and 13% Hispanic. Parents of older vs. younger children perceived greater decreases in PA and greater increases in SB from the pre- (Feb 2020) to -early-COVID-19 (April-May 2020) periods. Children were more likely to perform PA at home or on neighborhood streets during the early- vs pre-COVID-19 periods. Conclusion: Short-term changes in PA and SB in reaction to COVID-19 may become permanently entrenched, leading to increased risk of obesity and diabetes in children.