Physical Activity, Resilience, Emotions, Moods, and Weight Control during the COVID-19 Global Crisis

Aims: This study aimed at exploring the relationships between physical activity, weight control, and psycho-social aspects of the lockdown that characterized the Israeli population’s behavior during the COVID-19 global crisis.

Design: Cross-sectional survey research.

Methods: Participants included 1,855 men and women aged 18-90, from different regions in the country and representing different sectors. They were recruited through the social media, and filled out a self-administered six-part survey: Demographic background, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the positive and negative affect scales (PANAS), the Conor and Davidson resilience scale, a questionnaire for measuring depressive symptoms, and questions regarding weight change based on the Israeli National Health and Nutrition (MABAT) survey.

Results: Routine physical activity (PA) before the lockdown was reported by 76.3% of the participants. 19.3% stopped exercising during this period, and 9.3% began exercising during the lockdown. The participants who were physically active during the lockdown period reported a higher level of resilience and positive feelings, and a lower level of depression, compared with those who were not physically active.

People who were physically active during the lockdown maintained their weight compared with those who were inactive. Concerning weight change, 44.8% of the respondents maintained their weight, and a higher percentage of people reported weight gain than those who reported weight loss.

Conclusions: Continuous PA before and weight stability during the COVID-19 lockdown was associated with higher resilience and positive emotions, and low negative emotions and depressive symptoms.