Factors associated with Internet searches for exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Resumen

The aim of this study was investigated changes in online search patterns for exercise and the influence of social isolation and socioeconomic variables during the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. Google Trends was used to retrieve the search volume on the theme "Physical Exercise", in the category "fitness and beauty", during two periods: the previous five years and from January 1, 2020 to May 16, 2020. The deadline was March 12. After this cutoff, the actual search volume and values predicted by exponential smoothing were compared using the Student's t-test. Two linear regression models were created. In the first, the search volume for the second period was the outcome variable and the Government Response Stringency Index (GSRI) was the predictive variable. In the second model, the dependent variable was the difference between the values before and after the cutoff point, by the Brazilian State. The predictive variables tested were: Percentage of Social Isolation; Internet access; mHDI; Per capita Household Income and the Ranking of Cities Friends of Physical Activity. A difference of 29.8% was identified between the variables in the first analysis. In addition, the GSRI explained 51.2% of the variation in the research volume and the second model explains up to 42% of the changes in the outcome variable. In conclusion, the social isolation promoted by the government during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the period evaluated, had an impact on the search for subjects related to physical exercise on the internet among Brazilians.