The aftermath of the pandemic: how the COVID-19 pandemic affected physical activity, fitness, health, and body fat in first-year students in Norway.

ABSTRACT: Public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 included restricting physical activity (PA). Here we described the impact of pandemic restrictions and reduction in PA on physical fitness and health and body composition amongst first-year students, and the associations to body fat and total PA at the end of their first year. "On your own feet" is a longitudinal study exploring changes in lifestyle habits amongst first-year students. Questionnaires for assessment of perceived restriction, PA behaviour and fitness and health were administered at the start and end of the first year at university. Body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) and total PA (Actigraph®) were recorded at both time-points. In multivariable models we identified factors associated to body fat and

SUBMITTER: Feldhaus C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12739646 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature