Youth ‌Physical Fitness⁤ Declined ‌During Pandemic, Research Shows

‌ Updated June 15, 2025

A recent study published in JAMA Network ​Open indicates that the physical fitness of young people in the U.S.⁣ decreased⁤ during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ⁤research underscores the importance of⁤ maintaining youth fitness ⁢during widespread‌ crises to preserve both physical and mental health.

Andjelka Pavlovic, Ph.D.,of Texas Tech University​ Health Sciences Center,and her team tracked cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and musculoskeletal ⁤fitness (MSF) in over⁤ 152,000 students⁤ across‌ 264 schools. Data ‌spanned⁢ from before the pandemic (fall ⁢2020 to fall 2021) to after.

The ⁢study revealed students were less likely to ‍achieve healthy fitness​ zone (HFZ) scores in both CRF and MSF during ⁤the pandemic, with odds ratios of 0.72 and 0.82, respectively.​ Girls saw‌ an adjusted CRF decrease of⁢ 0.55 mL/kg/min,while boys experienced a 0.86 mL/kg/min drop.

Interestingly, among 116 schools ⁢analyzed, students in ​remote or hybrid​ learning environments for 15 to 22 weeks showed a slightly higher likelihood ‌of⁢ achieving CRF HFZ compared to those with‌ shorter remote learning periods. This suggests that while overall fitness declined, ‌remote learning may have offered some protective effect on⁢ cardiorespiratory health.

Pavlovic and⁢ colleagues emphasize the need ⁢for proactive strategies. “Should other catastrophic world events (e.g., pandemics or wars) occur ⁢in ⁤the future, health care practitioners, teachers and parents should ‍have a plan in place aimed at maintaining the physical⁢ fitness of‌ youths, thus likely‍ resulting in preserved mental and physical health and also academic learning,” ‌the authors wrote.

What’s next

Further research is ‍needed ‌to ​explore effective interventions for maintaining youth physical fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness ⁣during crises. These strategies coudl mitigate the negative impacts of future disruptions on youth health and well-being.