Short-term changes in time spent sitting during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: In a university community, it is likely that due to decreased walking, as well as the increase in activities through virtual environments due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the amount of time sitting could have increased. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey study was carried out to evaluate the short-term changes in the total time spent in sitting activities since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to establish the main reasons for this behavior. Three hundred ninety university students (21.6 +/- 3.2 years) and sixty-seven professors (40.6 +/- 10.8 years). from Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, were surveyed. RESULTS: The mean total time spent sitting after home confinement significantly increased 118.66 min.day(-1) (P<0.00I, 95% IC: 91.588 to 145.723) and 64.13 min.day(-1) (P<0.010, 95% IC: 14,271 to 114,006) in students and professors, respectively. This increase occurred in approximately 60% of both female and male genders. More females (similar to 90%) increased the time spent sitting due to school or work activities. CONCLUSIONS: Health authorities need to emphasize conveying active behavior recommendations to reduce time spent in sitting activities in the academic community during home confinement, considering that sedentary behavior could lead to early negative health consequences.