Evolving Inequalities in Physical Activity Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

18 Pages Posted: 5 May 2023

See all articles by Gwilym Owen

Gwilym Owen

University of Liverpool - Department of Public Health Policy and Systems

Katie Fahy

University of Liverpool - Department of Public Health Policy and Systems

Ben Barr

University of Liverpool - Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems

Date Written: December 5, 2022

Abstract

Background
Restrictions introduced to control the Covid-19 pandemic have potentially reduced levels of physical activity and increased inequalities. We investigated the extent to which this has happened during the first year of the pandemic in England.

Methods
Using representative survey data from 2015 until May 2021, we estimate the probability of being active over six stages, one prior to and five during the pandemic, using logistic regression. We model how these trends differed between groups based on gender, ethnicity, deprivation, age, disability and rurality. We further investigated the changes in the composition of activity.

Results
Levels of physical activity declined during the initial lockdown and while they partly recovered in the following months, by May 2021 they were still below pre-pandemic levels. In general, activity levels amongst more disadvantaged groups declined to a greater extent and recovered less than more advantaged groups, widening inequalities. By May 2021 the gap in physical activity rates between people living in the most and least deprived areas was 2.7 percentage points [95% CI 0.3 to 5.1] wider than would have been expected from pre-pandemic trends. Declines in some types of physical activity were partly compensated by increases in walking and cycling, but this tended to be greater among white British people and in less deprived areas.

Conclusion
Restrictions introduced to control the Covid-19 pandemic led to major declines in physical activity, increasing inequalities. Urgent action is needed to support the groups most affected to enable them to regain and increase levels of physical activity.

Note:
Funding Information: his work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (grant reference number PD-SPH-2015) and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Conflict of Interests: We declare no competing interests.

Keywords: COVID-19, health inequalities, statistics, physical activity

Suggested Citation

Owen, Gwilym and Fahy, Katie and Barr, Ben, Evolving Inequalities in Physical Activity Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic (December 5, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4301983 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4301983

Gwilym Owen

University of Liverpool - Department of Public Health Policy and Systems ( email )

Liverpool, L69 3GB
United Kingdom

Katie Fahy

University of Liverpool - Department of Public Health Policy and Systems ( email )

Liverpool, L69 3GB
United Kingdom

Ben Barr (Contact Author)

University of Liverpool - Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems ( email )

Liverpool, L69 3GB
United Kingdom

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