The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity habits at a residential university

Objective: To assess changes in physical activity (PA) after a COVID-19 shutdown on a primarily residential university campus. Methods: Eighty students, faculty, and staff (FS) of a university (age: 32.2 +/- 13.6 yr) who wore a consumer wearable technology (CWT) device completed an anonymous survey by inputting data for 30 days prior to- and 30 days following an academic break in 2020, in which the university transitioned to remote learning. Results: Steps decreased after spring break in all subjects (p < .001), but steps were impacted to a greater extent in students. 30-day, weekday, and weekend step averages all decreased in students (p < .001). FS were able to maintain their weekend step averages. Conclusions: PA decreased in a university community after the COVID-19 shutdown. Students, no longer active transport for campus life, saw a greater impact on their PA. These changes could have an impact on health status.