PHYSICAL INACTIVITY BEFORE AND DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

While physical activity is beneficial factor for overall health, physical inactivity is even more harmful for somatic and mental health. The modern public health policies are addressed to preventive strategy and increasing the socioeconomic and environmental conditions for people to be more active. According the WHO statistics, 23% of adult world population are not sufficiently active. Adolescent population is significantly more vulnerable regarding the sedentary life style, 81% of adolescent, between 11 an 17 years, do not reach the criteria of recommended dose of physical activity. The level of physical inactivity is dependent of economic development of the country, ethnicity, race, gender, age and other factors. Epidemiological restrictions recommended during the COVID 19 pandemic were mainly designed towards physical distancing and limited movements of people. The most countries banned unnecessary (or all) outdoor activities which affected people’s physical activity i.e promotes sedentary behavior. The great number of studies reported increases of physical inactivity and its influence on various medical conditions. Covid pandemic restrictions have detrimental effect on physical behavior, and its causes are multifactorial. The physical inactivity level adopted during the pandemic period was higher than before the restricted period.