California study of impact from COVID-19 lockdowns on exercise and health

1. © 2020 Emicity
Emicity Research
California Exercise &
Wellness Report
October 2020

2. © 2020 Emicity
Study Origins
Substantial research and reporting have covered the
health consequences of COVID-19 among at-risk
populations. However, little research has examined the
impact of COVID on the health-maintaining behaviors of
people who were fit and healthy at the beginning of the
pandemic.
In pursuit of that knowledge, Emicity Research sought to
examine how the COVID pandemic has changed the
exercise and fitness behaviors of people who regularly
engaged in exercise prior to the pandemic beginning.
Emicity hypothesized that the lockdown orders put in
place to mitigate COVID spread are also contributing to a
decline in the overall health and fitness of the population.
Since regular exercise and fitness may help to mitigate
severe COVID complications, such declines in fitness and
health may increase the number of people at risk for
severe COVID reactions – potentially exacerbating the
public health crisis as the outbreak progresses.
California Exercise & Wellness Report 2
Study Overview
Methodology
California emerged as an intriguing focus for this research based on several factors:
California is consistently ranked among the fittest states in the United States
(https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/slideshows/the-10-healthiest-states-in-the-us?slide=11)
California was one of the early hotspots for COVID – as a result, Californians
have been living under lockdown orders for longer than much of the country.
The lockdown orders in California continue to specifically ban the opening of
gyms and health clubs throughout most of the state
In order to ensure that our sample was comprised of Californians who were
regularly engaged with exercise and fitness prior to the pandemic, Emicity recruited
respondents from the membership lists of 13 gym and fitness organizations across
California.
Potential respondents were invited to participate in an online survey and share
their experiences with health and fitness during the pandemic. No incentive was
offered for participation.
All conclusions are drawn from differences observed in the data that are
statistically significant at the 90% confidence level.

3. © 2020 Emicity
California Exercise & Wellness Report 3
Sample Characteristics
Age demographics
Ages 18-35: 20%
Ages 36-59: 47%
Ages 60+: 33%
54% female / 45% male / 1% non-binary
Household income demographics
Under $50K: 16%
$50K - $99K: 29%
$100K+: 35%
Note: 20% did not share their income
Ethnicity demographics (multiple response)
Caucasian / White: 59%
Hispanic / Latino: 22%
Asian: 8%
African-American / Black: 3%
Note: 9% did not share their ethnicity
A total of 2,400 Californians completed
the 15-minute online survey.
All respondents were screened for
California residence, age, and
gym/health club membership at the
onset of the pandemic.

4. © 2020 Emicity
Far from being motivated by pure vanity, the vast majority of fitness-oriented Californians
exercise in pursuit of a variety of physical and mental health benefits.
California Exercise & Wellness Report 4
Top 10 Reasons Californians Exercise
Overall physical health 82%
Stress relief 72%
Overall mental health 68%
Weight loss / Weight management 63%
Maintain/improve my physical appearance 60%
Strength-building 58%
Preventative health 55%
Time for myself 53%
Reduce the symptoms of anxiety or depression 46%
Endurance 36%

5. © 2020 Emicity
75%
46% 44%
32% 31%
24% 22%
Gym/
health club
Accessible outdoor
spaces
Medical professionals/
facilities
Places of worship Pharmacies/
drug stores
Hair salons/
barbershops
Restaurants/
bars
Resources Relied on to Maintain or Improve Overall Sense of Well-Being
Prior to COVID-19 Shutdowns
% Critically important to me
Prior to the COVID-19 shutdowns, fitness-oriented Californians relied heavily on their gym or
health club to maintain and improve their overall sense of well-being—significantly more
than they relied on medical professionals, places of worship, or a number of other public
venues that have since re-opened after being shut down in the initial stages of the pandemic.
5California Exercise & Wellness Report

6. © 2020 Emicity
86%
of fitness-oriented
Californians report
at least one negative
health change since the
closure of their health
clubs/gyms
California Exercise & Wellness Report
60%
Report their overall physical
health has changed for the worse
54%
Report their mental health &
wellbeing has changed for the worse
53%
Report their weight has changed
for the worse
47%
Report their sleeping habits have
changed for the worse
46%
Report their eating habits have
changed for the worse
60%
Report their stress levels
have increased

7. © 2020 Emicity
78%
60%
Report their overall physical
health has changed for the worse
53%
Report their weight has changed
for the worse
47%
Report their sleeping habits have
changed for the worse
46%
Report their eating habits have
changed for the worse
California Exercise & Wellness Report
of fitness-oriented
Californians report
at least one negative
physical health change
since the closure of
their health clubs/gyms

8. © 2020 Emicity
54%
Report their mental health &
wellbeing has changed for the worse
60%
Report their stress levels
have increased
67%
California Exercise & Wellness Report
of fitness-oriented
Californians report
at least one negative
mental health change
since the closure of
their health clubs/gyms

9. © 2020 Emicity
Californian’s mental and physical health are heavily intertwined, and both have suffered
during the past 7 months—primarily because people lack access to proper equipment
and struggle to motivate themselves to exercise at home. Finding a space to exercise has
been another significant problem during COVID-19 lockdowns.
9
What drove your negative physical
health outcomes?
I don’t have access to the right equipment 80%
I struggle to motivate myself to exercise 67%
My diet changed 37%
I don’t have anywhere to exercise at home 36%
I don’t have access to my group fitness classes 25%
I can’t exercise with my usual partner(s) 19%
I don’t have anywhere to exercise outdoors 18%
What drove your negative mental
health outcomes?
I don’t have access to the right equipment 70%
I struggle to motivate myself to exercise 60%
I don’t have anywhere to exercise at home 31%
My diet changed 31%
I don’t have access to my group fitness classes 22%
I can’t exercise with my usual partner(s) 19%
I don’t have anywhere to exercise outdoors 17%
California Exercise & Wellness Report

10. © 2020 Emicity
43%
26%
62%
48%
34%32%
14%
43%
36%
21%
I don’t have
anywhere to
exercise in my
home
I don’t have
anywhere to
exercise outside
I don’t have
access to a safe
outdoor space
where I can
exercise
I don’t have
access to a large
enough outdoor
space to exercise
I cannot easily
travel to an
outdoor space to
exercise
Factors Disproportionately Driving Down Physical Health in
Lower Socio-economic Households since Covid-19
< $75,000 HHI $75,000+ HHI
Why can’t you
exercise outside?
Several factors driving the decline in physical health have disproportionately impacted less
affluent Californians – including a lack of interior exercise space as well as access to outdoor
space that is safe, large enough, and within easy traveling distance from home. As a result of
these factors, the median household income among those who stopped exercising during
COVID was $25,000 less than the median income among those who continued to exercise.
10California Exercise & Wellness Report

11. © 2020 Emicity
Fitness-oriented Californians do not see digital fitness aids as a viable replacement for their
gym or health club.
95% of fitness-oriented Californians have been unable to replicate or replace key components of their gym experience at
home, even with an increased reliance on digital exercise tools.
The lack of access to proper equipment (56%) was the most cited deficit when comparing at-home exercise to exercise at a
gym – most Californians have simply been unable to replicate their gym-based exercise regimen given the equipment
available to them at home.
Though usage of digital exercise tools (online classes, personal training apps, tutorials, etc.) has nearly doubled during the
pandemic, the vast majority view these as stopgap measures rather than a replacement for their gym or fitness center.
California Exercise & Wellness Report 11
21%
20%
10%
12%
12%
4%
Cardio tools
Strength tools
Online classes
Use of Digital Fitness Aids
Before Covid
During Covid
75%
More of a supplement
to in-person gym
experience – still plan
on returning to gym
More of a replacement
for gym experience – I
don’t feel need to
return to gym
Don’t know yet – still
figuring out what future
exercise regimen will be
How Those Digital Tools Are Viewed
75%
7%
18%

12. © 2020 Emicity
66%
61%
55% 54% 51%
Exercise Stress level Weight Diet Age
Factors Perceived to Reduce Risk of
Serious Complications or Death from COVID-19
% Major impact
Fitness-oriented Californians recognize the connection between good health and positive
COVID outcomes: 74% say the pandemic has made them more conscious about the
importance of good physical health, and exercise was most often credited as a factor that
would improve their chances of recovery should they contract the disease—more than their
weight, diet, or age.
12California Exercise & Wellness Report

13. © 2020 Emicity
In spite of recognizing the connection between positive COVID outcomes and good physical
health, COVID-related shutdowns have led nearly a third of fitness-oriented Californians to
completely abandon their exercise and fitness regimens.
Pre-COVID, 100%
regularly exercised.
During lockdown, only
69% have regularly
exercised.
Strength training decreased
from 90% pre-COVID to
44% during lockdown
Cardio exercise decreased
from 95% pre-COVID to
61% during lockdown
California Exercise & Wellness Report 13
34%
decline
46%
decline
34%
decline
Group fitness decreased
from 46% pre-COVID to
12% during lockdown
31%
decline

14. © 2020 Emicity
Alarmingly, the fitness-oriented Californians who were most likely to have stopped all
regular exercise during COVID are also those at greater risk for COVID complications and
negative outcomes because of their underlying health problems.
California Exercise & Wellness Report 14
5%
6%
14%
44%
7%
10%
23%
50%
Lung/breathing issues
Diabetes
Heart-related issues
Anxiety / Depression
Frequency of Underlying Health Issues
Stopped exercising
during COVID
Continued exercising
during COVID
Those who have stopped exercising were
significantly more likely to state that they
previously relied on exercise to minimize
severe underlying physical health problems
such as diabetes, heart-related issues (high
blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.), and
lung/breathing-related issues (asthma,
COPD, etc.).
Additionally, those who have stopped
exercising were significantly more likely to
state that they previously relied on exercise
to minimize underlying mental health issues
such as anxiety and depression.

15. © 2020 Emicity
However, fitness-oriented Californians anticipate resuming (or expanding) their previous
exercise habits once gyms and health clubs re-open.
Strength training participation
decreased from 90% pre-
COVID to 44% during lockdown
94% expect to resume when
gyms re-open
Cardio exercise participation
decreased from 95% pre-
COVID to 61% during lockdown
95% expect to resume when
gyms re-open
California Exercise & Wellness Report 15
Full return to
pre-COVID
4% gain over
pre-COVID
6% gain over
pre-COVID
Group fitness participation
decreased from 46% pre-
COVID to 12% during lockdown
52% expect to resume when
gyms re-open
Full return to
pre-COVID
Post-lockdown, 99%
anticipate returning to
regular exercise.
Pre-COVID, 100%
regularly exercised.
During lockdown, only
69% have regularly
exercised.

16. © 2020 Emicity
Overall, 88% of fitness-oriented Californians expect to return to their gyms when they re-
open. Nearly half have no concerns about returning to their gyms during the pandemic, so
long as concrete measures are put in place to ensure the safety of guests and workers.
Concerns about returning to gyms and health clubs are
comparable to other public venues related to health,
fitness, and wellbeing.
In order to feel comfortable returning to their gyms,
Californians need to see specific protocols put in place
to ensure their safety. The most frequently requested
procedures included:
Detailed cleaning regimens for the facility and
equipment
Enhanced air quality/filtration
More sanitizing products made available to
members
High compliance in masking behavior among
both members and staff
Ability to social distance and/or limit crowding
California Exercise & Wellness Report 16
39%
44%
45%
46%
52%
Restaurants & bars
Gyms / Health clubs
Places of worship
Medical facilities
Hair salons / Barbershops
Venues Californians are Comfortable
Returning to Upon Re-Opening

17. © 2020 Emicity
The ongoing COVID pandemic and concurrent lockdown procedures have led to a dramatic decline in exercise and fitness
behavior among fitness-oriented Californians who previously exercised on a regular basis.
The vast majority of fitness-oriented Californians can identify negative health outcomes from this decline, including
negative changes in overall health (both physical and mental), sleep habits, weight, eating habits, and stress levels.
Nearly a third of those who regularly exercised prior to the pandemic have ceased all regular exercise since the
lockdown orders went into place.
This decline in over all fitness and exercise behavior is largely due to a lack of access to proper exercise equipment, difficulties
in self-motivating to exercise at home, and a lack of a space to exercise (either at home or outdoors).
The cessation of regular exercise is more pronounced among lower income households, who also faced greater
struggles to find places to exercise at home or outdoors.
The cessation of regular exercise is also more pronounced among those who previously exercised to mitigate major
health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, and COPD.
Without the re-opening of gyms and health clubs, this pattern of complete exercise cessation (especially among individuals at
high risk for COVID complications) has the potential to put further strain on physical and mental health resources as the
pandemic progresses.
Encouragingly, nearly every fitness-oriented Californian who regularly exercise pre-COVID anticipates returning to (or
expanding) their exercise regimen once lockdown orders are loosened.
Concerns about returning to gyms and health clubs were on par with concerns for returning to other public places.
So long as adequate safety and cleaning protocols are put in place, the vast majority of fitness-oriented Californians are
comfortable with and want to return to their gyms and health clubs to resume their exercise and fitness behaviors.
California Exercise & Wellness Report 17
California Exercise & Wellness Report
Discussion

18. © 2020 Emicity
California Exercise & Wellness Report 18
For further information about the California Exercise & Wellness Report, please
contact Kristopher Gauthier via email at Kristopher@emi.city.