AUTHOR=Gjestvang Christina , Tangen Elene Mauseth , Haakstad Lene A. H. 

TITLE=The Coronavirus pandemic and closed fitness clubs negatively affected members exercise habits

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.985782

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2022.985782

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, politicians enacted directions to reduce social interactions, including lockdown of fitness clubs. We aimed to investigate how this changed exercise habits of Norwegian gym members.</p></sec><sec><title>Method</title><p>Based on survey data, men and women (≥18 years, <italic>n</italic> = 233, data collection from Aug. 2020 to Jan. 2021) were recruited to this study by an email-invitation from their fitness club chain or by Facebook advertisement. The participants reported on background variables (e.g., age, gender, total household income, occupation, and education), and exercise habits pre- and during social lockdown. Data were analyzed using independent or student <italic>t</italic>-test, chi-squared test, or McNemar's test, as appropriate.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Home-based exercise (18.0 vs. 72.5%, <italic>p</italic> = &lt;0.001), walking (49.8 vs. 65.2%, <italic>p</italic> = &lt;0.001), and cycling (16.7 vs. 24.5%, <italic>p</italic> = 0.004) was more common during than pre-lockdown. Also, men (4.33 to 3.68 days/week, <italic>p</italic> =0.013) and women (4.20 to 3.79 days/week, <italic>p</italic> = 0.001) reported a lower exercise frequency, and a shorter duration. Exercise frequency was lower in those with a BMI ≥25 than in those with BMI &lt;25 (3.95 vs. 4.48 days/week, <italic>p</italic> = &lt;0.007) pre-lockdown. High exercise attendees (≥3 sessions/week, 66.5%) reported a smaller decrease in exercise frequency (mean change: 0.06 vs. 1.24 days/week, <italic>p</italic> = &lt;0.001) and duration (&gt;60 min. per session: 33.0 vs. 3.8%, <italic>p</italic> = &lt;0.001) than low exercise attendees during lockdown.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Home-based exercise, walking, and cycling were most frequently reported during lockdown. Participants reported a small decrease in exercise duration and frequency compared with pre-lockdown. Closure of fitness clubs impacted low attendees more than high attendees.</p></sec>