A study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has evaluated the effects of the nationwide shutdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on people's exercise and diet, and the results are worrying.
The study looked at 1,200 people who make exercise a regular part of their routines by taking classes, going to the gym, using a personal trainer, or any other organized forms of physical activity.
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While the study showed that 24% of respondents took part in online exercise classes while under lockdown, 70% exercised less than they usually do.
Only 15% of respondents used the time at home to increase their exercise regimens, and over half (55%) gained more than two kilograms (4.5 pounds) while at home. The remaining 45% did not gain weight or lost weight during the shutdown.
Because the data is based on the respondents' self-reporting and not weighing in, the assessment is that the results are somewhat inaccurate and that a much higher percentage might have gained weight.
Among the respondents who continued to exercise during the shutdown, some 60% used online resources, while 22% did not. Another 21% tried the digital exercise route but abandoned it. A total of 24% logged onto the Zoom meeting app for training sessions, with another 16% using workout routines on TV or online. Five percent used fitness apps and another 12% tried "everything."
The researchers asked study participants how interested they were in returning to their previous exercise regimens, and 90% said they would go back, while 5% have not yet decided. Another 5% said they were afraid of contracting coronavirus and would not resume organized exercise sessions.
Physiologist Dr. Horesh Dor-Haim, who manages the O2 Start Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and who directed the study, wanted to look at worldwide data on exercise habits during the corona shutdown and used data from the Fitbit company, which makes fitness tracking bracelets. Dor-Haim found that in Spain, which was under severe lockdown conditions, the public took 38% fewer steps than usual. In North America, where the lockdown was generally less stringent, steps dropped by 15%, whereas in Israel, users' number of daily steps dropped by 24%.
"For years, we have been teaching about the importance of physical activity to health and talking about the obesity epidemic and the lack of activity as a risk in premature death. The impact of the drop-off in physical activity as a result of the corona restrictions could be more lethal than the corona itself," Dor-Haim said.
"Each year, over 40 million people die from non-infectious disease worldwide. Studies show that lack of physical activity leads to a rise of 20-30% in these diseases. These are much higher numbers than corona, which has killed about 250,000 people worldwide thus far," he said.
Meanwhile, pressure is growing to re-open Israel's beaches and restaurants.
Despite trepidation from lawmakers, with the season's first heatwave on the way, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Herzliya municipalities have taken charge and arranged their beachfronts to meet social distancing standards, placing chair and lounges two meters apart and sanitizing toilets, showers, and food facilities.
On Monday, representatives of the Tel Aviv city council met with government ministry officials on the city's Frishman Beach to roll out the city's plan for a corona-free beach season.
In addition, many hotels have declared a target date to reopen for business: May 28, which is the eve of Shavuot. Depending on the corona numbers, dining halls and pools – which are closed in the hotels that have already resumed operations – might be operational, as well.
The Health Ministry still has reservations about a too-rapid return to routine, and warned that "It would be wrong to speed up all the processes. We suggest that every organization promote its own sector. An unchecked return to routine could have hard ramifications," the ministry said.
The number of active coronavirus cases in Israel stood at 4,312 on Tuesday, a drop of 93 from the previous day. That number includes 67 patients listed in serious condition, of whom 57 are on ventilators.
The total number of confirmed corona cases in Israel stood at 16,526 on Tuesday, with 258 Israelis having died of the virus. A total of 11,956 have recovered from coronavirus.
