The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical fitness in young adults: a historical control study.

ABSTRACT: The strength of evidence regarding long-term changes to fitness resulting from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns is deficient. This two-site retrospective study aimed to investigate the long-term changes in physical fitness among young adults a year after the onset of the pandemic using a robust historical control. University freshmen who underwent physical fitness tests in 2019 and completed a follow-up in 2020 (study group) were included. The primary focus was to compare the current cohort with a historical control group who completed the same tests a year prior (2018). A total of 5376 individuals were recruited, of which 2239 were in the study group. Compared with the control, the study group exhibited a decrease in anaerobic fitness, with an overall difference of -0.84

SUBMITTER: Ripley-Gonzalez JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10507106 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature