Flint, MI-  British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study about the possible connection between physical activity and COVID-19. The goal of the research was to see if regular exercise reduced the risk of hospitalizations, intensive care unit admission and mortality due to COVID-19. Health experts at Kaiser Permanente asked patients how many days per week they participate in moderate to strenuous physical activity and how many minutes they partake in said activity. The study included more than 48,000 adults who had tested positive for COVID-19 between the dates of January and October of 2020. 43% of those patients were Latinx, 11% were Black, 34% were White and 10% were Asian or Pacific Islander. 

“Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults,” the authors concluded. “The potential for habitual physical activity to lower COVID-19 illness severity should be promoted by the medical community and public health agencies.”

Researchers found that patients who were consistently inactive had a higher risk of hospitalization, ICU admission and death due to COVID-19. According to the CDC, adults need 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week and children aged 6 to 17 need moderate to intense physical activity. About 80% of Americans are not getting the recommended exercise needed (CDC).  Robert Sallis, MD says, “Walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week at a moderate pace and that will give you a tremendous protective effect against COVID-19.” Physical activity can also reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, lower risk of stroke, lower risk of high blood pressure, improve sleep, and improve cognitive function.