Potential of Exercise as a COVID-19 Prevention Strategy

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents one of the greatest threats to population health in more than a century. As of January 2023, >6.7 million deaths globally were attributed to COVID-19. As new mutations evolve, it is apparent that the virus will not be eliminated soon and that strategies for managing life with COVID-19 are needed.¹

A recent American Journal of Preventive Medicine study shows that exercise and exercise intensity have a strong impact on lowering COVID-19−related mortality and hospitalization.² Consequently, this study supports the assertion that engaging in active lifestyles could boost the immune system response and help to maintain physical and mental well-being, leading to an improvement in overall quality of life.³

Physical inactivity is a major public health problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical inactivity costs for health care are $17 billion annually. Only about half of Americans meet physical activity guidelines, with younger people doing better than older people and men getting a bit more exercise than women. Common exercise barriers for women are lack of time, lack of motivation, low income, perceptions of safety, body image, and parenting demands.

The clinical and public health importance of this study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine is significant and incentivizes the necessity to reduce physical inactivity. Effective interventions to address the causes of physical inactivity and shift cultural and social norms to adopt regular physical activity are necessary.

The Global Advocacy for Physical Activity Council identified 7 best investments for promoting physical activity on the basis of the existing global evidence.⁴ These include school programs, transportation policies and systems, urban design and infrastructure, physical activity built into primary prevention strategies, public education, community programs, and sport for all⁴. The nature of these investments requires effective policies and programs that promote sustainable physical activity−centered lifestyles. The Committee on Sports Medicine of the American Academy of Pediatrics⁵ emphasizes that we need to teach children the importance of regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to prevent illness in adult life; encourage parents to serve as role models by participating in regular physical activity, ideally with their children; and work with schools, supporting daily physical education and promoting moderate-to-vigorous activity tasks in physical education classes.

Physical activity is vitally important for children's physical mental health and overall well-being. Active kids are more likely to become active adults, and this benefits society, with a reduced burden on our health systems in the future. Yet, globally, most of our vulnerable children are not active enough to experience these benefits. Our children spend more time learning in school and too much sedentary screen time at home.⁶

Thus, this presents an opportunity to lead our children to a better future through public policy. An immediate change that can be implemented is the creation of car-free zones of two kilometers from school zones. These car-free active travel zones would give children more walking and cycling opportunities as the danger that vehicles present remains an obstacle to the active lifestyles of our vulnerable children and youth.⁷