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

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 total PA. We included 150 students aged 18-22 years, 53% of whom reported restrictions and 34% a reduction in PA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students reporting restrictions had comparable fitness, health, body composition and PA level at baseline and follow-up, compared to those without restrictions. Students with reduced PA less often reported “good” fitness (30% vs. ... mehr56%, p < 0.001) and health (54% vs. 70%, p = 0.046) and had higher mean body fat percentage (27% vs. 23%, p = 0.009) and lower total PA (314 vs. 420 cpm, p < 0.001) at baseline, compared to those without reduction in PA. At follow-up, they less often reported “good” physical fitness (26% vs. 54%, p = 0.005), while body composition and total PA were comparable. We concluded that students who report pandemic reduction in PA may need targeted interventions to improve fitness.