How Age, Marriage, and Money Shaped Exercise Habits During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic brought big changes to our lives, including how much we moved around. A study looked at adults in Arkansas to see how their exercise habits changed during the pandemic, and what factors played a role. Researchers asked 1, 205 adults in July and August 2020 about their exercise levels and some personal details. They found that age, if someone was married, if they lost income due to COVID-19, and if they got a stimulus check were all connected to how their exercise changed. Older people, married folks, those who didn't lose income, and people who got stimulus checks were less likely to cut back on exercise. Surprisingly, race didn't seem to make a difference. This tells us that our personal situations can really affect how active we stay, even during tough times. It's a reminder for health professionals to think about these factors when trying to get people moving, even after the pandemic is over.