Sport England recently published its Active Lives Adult Survey studying the impact of the first eight months of coronavirus on activity levels. According to the survey findings, the pandemic has led to important decreases in activity levels, as restrictions, such as the closure of gyms or their limited capacity, impacted the accessibility of training infrastructures.
As it turned out, the majority of adults who are already physically active in England managed to maintain their activity levels. However, the first months of the pandemic and its follow-up restrictions also led to an increase in people not being sufficiently active – meaning that they were doing less than 30 minutes of activity per week, or even nothing at all.
The report also shows that many individuals were able to adapt to the circumstances and find alternative ways to be active. For instance, while many activities were made impossible e.g. swimming and team sports, there was an increase in walking, running, or cycling. The number of people working out at home also increased, as at home alternatives emerged such as online fitness classes.
The pandemic therefore had a significant impact on people’s physical activity levels, an issue which is still ongoing. Nevertheless, as restrictions continue to ease, a positive increase could be expected in the next months.
Read the full report here for more specific information regarding levels of activity, attitudes, as well as types of activity.