|
 Women and men under 29 years old took fewer steps in June than the
same period a year ago, according to data aggregated from Fitbit
users, as the novel coronavirus prompted people to stay at home.
People over 30 years old were closer to last year's levels, and
women ages 50 years old to 64 years old even took more steps in
mid-June than a year ago.
Officials in some states have expressed concern this week that the
re-opening of restaurants, bars and other businesses could draw
young adults, in particular, from their homes and lead to infections
among a group so far less affected by the virus. Many infected young
people do not exhibit symptoms but may be transmitters.
Hulya Emir-Farinas, Fitbit’s director of data science, told Reuters
that it was difficult to pinpoint why young adults are further from
pre-outbreak steps than other age cohorts.
[to top of second column] |
"Perhaps this group is home from university or still working from home so not
walking to class or commuting to work, or it could be that they are showing more
caution," Emir-Farinas said, adding that younger people also have "more ground
to make up" because they are typically more active than others.
Other data tracked by Fitbit devices, including resting heart rates and vigorous
movement, also suggest young adults were less active than older people this
month.
Data from New York City showed activity across all users fell 23% in April and
14% in May compared with normal. But younger people's activity dipped 34% in
April and 24% in May, Fitbit said.
(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
