During lockdowns, public health experts recommend maintaining physical fitness through home-based exercise. Yet, while teens already lead increasingly sedentary lives, new research shows they become even less active indoors compared to outdoor settings.
Obesity rates among adolescents are climbing, largely due to rising sedentary behaviors. Pandemic restrictions like stay-at-home orders exacerbate this trend. A study published on April 15, 2021, in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity by U.S. researchers confirms that teens are less physically active indoors at home and when alone.
Researchers used smartphone notifications sent randomly once daily for a week to survey participants on their location and companions 30 minutes prior. Teens also wore accelerometers to objectively measure movement volume and intensity.
The findings were sobering: accelerometers recorded lower activity levels when teens were indoors or alone. Experts attribute this to parents viewing the home as a calm zone for reading, screen time, or quiet play—activities often solitary and low-energy. Such perceptions may influence home layouts favoring relaxation over activity.
Gym access or club sports are ideal but limited by health guidelines. Researchers suggest countering this by designating a specific home area for exercise to release energy. For cohabitants, group activities can boost motivation and participation.
