COVID-19 pandemic and physical inactivity in Brazilian university students: a multicenter study

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with variables of the pandemic context in Brazilian university students. A cross-sectional, multicentric study was carried out in five public universities in different geographic regions of Brazil. The study included 5,720 students, aged 18 or over, between September 2020 and May 2021. Data collection was performed through a self administered online questionnaire on the REDCap platform. The dependent variable was physical inactivity. The independent variables were the aspects related to the pandemic. The prevalence of physical inactivity was 48.8% (95%CI: 47.5%; 50.1%), ranging from 26.3% for those who went out every or almost every day for non-essential activities and 64.9 % for those who stayed at home all the time. University students who reported continuing to work normally and who were afraid of the pandemic were more likely to be physically inactive. The groups that were less likely to have the outcome were those with a reduction in income, those who left home more often for essential and non-essential activities, those who started working at home, those who complied with the social distancing, and those who had a risk factor for COVID-19. The findings indicate that one in two Brazilian university students are physically inactive and the main risk factors were isolation and fear of the pandemic. Interventions are recommended to promote physical activity, especially for the groups most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.