Children not less active during COVID 19 pandemic

The SOPHYA study of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) investigated the physical activity and sports behaviour of children and adolescents throughout Switzerland over a period of five years. Physical activity did not decrease during the COVID 19 pandemic. Results show that the living environment and physical activity of the parents have a significant influence on physical activity behaviour during childhood and thus have a long-term impact on the health of children and later adults. SOPHYA (Swiss Children's O bjectively Measured sical A ctivity) is the first Swiss-wide long-term study that objectively measured the physical activity behaviour of children and adolescents. It was done by using an accelerometer, and simultaneously investigating the influencing factors derived from surveys on sports activities, family, lifestyle, living environment and health. Around 2'300 children and young people, aged 5 to 20, from all over Switzerland, took part in this study between 2014 and 2019/2020. The study made it possible to examine the development of physical activity behaviour from childhood to adolescence and into young adulthood.