Public health measures during COVID-19 reduced children's physical activity and increased sedentary time, with variable impacts on sleep
A rapid global scoping review of 182 studies across 48 countries (2020-2023) found consistent declines in children's physical activity and increases in sedentary time during COVID-19 public health measures, with variable impacts on sleep. The review highlights that movement behaviours were insufficiently considered in emergency response planning, and recommends embedding movement opportunities in future preparedness efforts.
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Public health measures during COVID-19 reduced children's physical activity and increased sedentary time, with variable impacts on sleep The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 32/100 (low).
The Claim
Public health measures during COVID-19 reduced children's physical activity and increased sedentary time, with variable impacts on sleep
This conclusion is most relevant to: Children (age range not specified) across 48 countries.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Safeguarding Children's Movement Behaviours During Public Health Crises: Lessons From a Global Rapid Scoping Review. (Environmental health insights, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Public health restrictions limited opportunities for physical activity and active play
- ▸Increased time at home and screen-based activities led to higher sedentary time
- ▸Disrupted daily routines and increased stress affected sleep patterns
- ▸Result: Overall decline in movement behaviours and negative impact on child health
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Children (age range not specified) across 48 countries
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Scoping review relies on self-reported or proxy-reported measures, which may be subject to bias
- ▸Heterogeneity across studies in definitions and measurement of movement behaviours limits comparability
- ▸Rapid review methodology may have missed some relevant studies or grey literature
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main changes in children's movement behaviours during COVID-19?▼
The review found consistent declines in physical activity and increases in sedentary time, while sleep impacts were variable across studies.
How many studies were included in this review?▼
The review included 182 studies conducted across 48 countries between 2020 and 2023.
What strategies were recommended to mitigate harms to movement behaviours?▼
Commonly proposed strategies included education, environmental restructuring, enablement, and policy and service-level actions to support healthy movement opportunities during restrictions.
Why is this important for future public health crises?▼
The evidence suggests that movement behaviours were treated as secondary outcomes in emergency planning, and protecting them should be embedded in future preparedness to safeguard child health.
References
- 1.Vanderloo LM, Nagpal TS, Tyler R, Palmeira AL, Bonisteel EA, Bruijns BA, Burnett AJ, Byambaa A, Carson V, Cox JM, Elford A, Emori RB, Johnstone A, Jones RA, Veldman SLC, Yudasmara DS, Bannerman F, Okely AD. “Safeguarding Children's Movement Behaviours During Public Health Crises: Lessons From a Global Rapid Scoping Review..” Environmental health insights, 2026. PMID: 42605354 DOI: 10.1177/11786302261479502