Change in leisure-time physical activity and perception of weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the ELSA-Brasil Cohort.

Objective: this study aimed to identify the association between changes in Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) and Perceived Weight Gain (PWG) during the COVID-19 pandemic among participants enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Methods: an observational longitudinal study utilizing data from the ELSA-Brasil, Wave 3 - W3 (2017-2019), and Wave-COVID - WC (July/2020 to February/2021). LTPA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, collected at both time points, while PWG was evaluated through a questionnaire in WC. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 21.0, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: among 4402 adults (57.8 % women), after adjusting for potential confounding variables, individuals who reduced their LTPA levels to the extent of changing their classification were more likely to experience PWG - specifically, those who were moderately active in W3 and became sedentary in WC (OR = 1.5 [95 % CI, 1.2-1.9]) or had low LTPA in WC (OR = 1.6 [95 % CI, 1.2-2.1]), and those who were highly active in W3 and presented a low level of LTPA in WC (OR = 2.3 [95 % CI, 1.05-5.4]).

Conclusion: our findings suggest that individuals who engaged in LTPA (moderately and highly levels) during W3 but transitioned to insufficiently active or sedentary lifestyles during the WC, were more likely to experience PWG.