Changes in Physical Inactivity Among US Adults Overall and by Sociodemographic Characteristics, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2020 Versus 2018

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted people’s work–life patterns and access to places to be physically active. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were analyzed to assess changes in self-reported leisure-time physical inactivity. The results showed that prevalence of inactivity among US adults decreased 0.7 percentage points (95% CI: −1.2 to −0.3), from 24.5% in 2018 to 23.8% in 2020, and the greatest decreases were observed among rural-dwelling women, rural-dwelling men, and non-Hispanic White women. These findings highlight a need to understand and address factors that lead to differential changes in leisure-time physical inactivity across subpopulations during public health emergencies.