Changes in Physical Activity and Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic among Software Employees in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Background & Aim: The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic and the associated nationwide lockdown have had a huge impact on the physical activity and lifestyle of software employees. So, this study was conducted to explore the relationship between the changes in their lifestyle and the pandemic. Material and Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among software professionals using an online platform. They were asked about the changes they experienced in their physical activity and lifestyle before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A pre-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. All candidates from the selected software companies around the Sholinganallur area were assessed. The sample size achieved was 150. Results: Among the 150 participants, 48% were female and 52% were male. 18% were single and 82% were married. Only 38% of the subjects were going to the office for work, rest all were working from home. Before the pandemic, 43.5% of people were doing regular physical activity, that too only during weekends, but during these lockdowns, it increased to 56.5% equally during weekdays and weekends. Physical activity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Conclusion: The percentage of software employees doing physical activities was found to have increased during lockdowns as compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Before the pandemic, majority of the subjects used to do physical activities during weekends only, but during the lockdown, the subjects had shown weekday workouts.