Physical activity and the coronavirus pandemic: an urgent time to change the recommendation focus

Authors

  • Luiz Guilherme Grossi Porto Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação Física, Grupo de Estudos em Fisiologia e Epidemiologia do Exercício e da Atividade Física, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6240-1614
  • Guilherme E. Molina Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação Física, Grupo de Estudos em Fisiologia e Epidemiologia do Exercício e da Atividade Física, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5937-079X
  • Victor K. Matsudo Centro de Estudos do Laboratório de Aptidão Física de São Caetano do Sul – CELAFISCS, São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.25e0125

Keywords:

Guidelines, Exercise, COVID-19, Public health, Education

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the routine daily life of millions of people. The pandemic associated restrictive measures impose unprecedented challenges, including the need to stay physically active in a social distancing scenario that drastically reduces access to physical activity (PA) spaces and opportunities. Therefore, we aimed to discuss the need for an urgent change in the main focus of PA recommendations. The total of PA needed for health promotion has been focused on the minimum of 150min/moderate-to-vigorous PA/week. It is time for a call for action toward shifting the focus of PA recommendations. Instead of the traditional “doing at least 150min/week of PA, and less than that if you can’t reach that goal”, recommendations should emphasize the idea of “move more, sit less and, if possible, accumulate 150min/PA/week. The coronavirus pandemic, its associated social distancing and impacts on PA opportunities, impose an urgent change in PA recommendation main focus.

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Author Biography

Luiz Guilherme Grossi Porto, Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação Física, Grupo de Estudos em Fisiologia e Epidemiologia do Exercício e da Atividade Física, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Prof. Adjunto da Faculdade de Educação Física da Universidade de Brasília - UnB e Professor colaborador do Laboratório Cardiovascular da Faculdade de Medicina da UnB

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Published

2020-09-29

How to Cite

1.
Porto LGG, Molina GE, Matsudo VK. Physical activity and the coronavirus pandemic: an urgent time to change the recommendation focus. Rev. Bras. Ativ. Fís. Saúde [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 29 [cited 2024 Jul. 3];25:1-5. Available from: https://rbafs.org.br/RBAFS/article/view/14394

Issue

Vol. 25 (2020)

Section

Theoretical Essays on Physical Activity and Health

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Luiz Guilherme Grossi Porto, Guilherme E. Molina, Victor K. Matsudo

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