Physical activity levels across COVID-19 outbreak in youngsters of Northwestern Lombardy

BACKGROUND: Italy early experienced one of the most suffering impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of number of cases and death toll. Progressively, more compelling national restrictions hardened citizens’ lifestyle and habits, including limiting mobility and outdoor physical activity (PA). In a second phase, people were allowed to perform outdoor activities close to their houses and thereafter motor or sports activity were gradually reintroduced. These drastic changes raised the question on how to cope and exploit the residual opportunities of PA under circumstances of home confinement. METHODS: International Physical Activity Questionnaires were administered to 1,568 youngsters from North-western Italian high schools, before, during, and after lockdown enacted by Italian Government to contrast the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Student’s PA levels were significantly different before (1676.37 ± 20.6 MET-min/week) and after (1774.50 ± 33.93 MET-min/week) the governmental restrictions (TIME effect: F=3.49; ηp 2 = 0.005 p=0.03). There was a significant TIME*CATEGORY interaction effect (F=8.37; ηp 2 = 0.021; p<0.001). In particular, only highly active students (>2520 MET-min/week) increased their PA during (3467.48 ± 55.85 MET-min/week) and after (3515.73 ± 65.75 MET-min/week) the lockdown measures with respect to their baseline levels (3151.43 ± 42.41 MET-min/week). CONCLUSIONS: Lockdown measures, including isolation, impacted negatively on the PA levels of the already inactive or moderately active young population. Government actions should enhance strategies to control physical inactivity during pandemics like COVID-19.