Changes in Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Active Commuting to School From Before to After the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adolescents in Brazil: Repeated Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses

This repeated cross-sectional study with a nested cohort compared leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and active commuting to school among Brazilian adolescents before COVID-19 (2019) and after school reopening (2022). Cross-sectional analyses showed similar odds of engaging in any LTPA across periods, but adolescents who were active in 2022 accumulated more total LTPA, particularly through team sports and fitness activities. In contrast, prospective analyses revealed declines in engagement in total LTPA, team sports, and individual sports from 2019 to 2022. No significant changes were observed for active commuting in either analysis. Overall, differences emerged for leisure-time but not commuting-related physical activity, reinforcing the need for continued public health efforts to promote adolescent physical activity post-pandemic.