Abstract

This study aimed at determining changes in physical activity (PA) and energy expenditure of Ecuadorian students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 1033 students completed the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to estimate energy expenditure in metabolic equivalents of task (MET) in MET·min-1·week-1. Absolute reliability and the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) were computed.  Men reduced vigorous-intensity energy expenditure (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= -410.8, -698.6 MET·min-1·week-1) and moderate-intensity (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= -283.6, -138.4 MET·min-1·week-1). Walking energy expenditure was higher at the beginning than during the pandemic (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= -379.6, -303.0 MET·min-1·week-1). Men and women reduced their total energy expenditure (p≤ 0.0001; Men CI95% diff.= -1311.7, -894.1 MET·min-1·week-1; Women CI95% diff.= -654.0, 290.0 MET·min-1·week-1). Sitting time was lower at baseline than during the pandemic (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= 0.48, 0.74 h). The 85.8% of the participants did not change their vigorous energy expenditure, 5.0% increased it, and 9.2% reduced it. The 86.6% of the sample did not change the energy expenditure of moderate intensity, 4.6% increased it, and 8.7% reduced it. Indeed, 84.6% did not change walking energy expenditure, 1.4% increased it, and 14.0% reduced it. The total energy expenditure did not change in 84.2% of the participants, 4.3% increased it, and 11.5% reduced it. The sitting time did not change in 79.3% of the participants, 15.0% increased it, and 5.7% reduced it. In conclusion, the energy expenditure from PA was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuadorian university students. More than 79% of the students maintained their habits, confirming that changing behavior remains challenging. These findings are significant given the deleterious effects of reduced physical activity on cardiometabolic health.

Keywords

Physical activity, Smallest worthwhile change, Hispanics, Metabolism, Sedentary behavior,

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