Daily exercise and its role in mitigating covid-19 severity in young adults: insights from reunion island

Аннотация

COVID-19 has significantly impacted global COPYRIGHT health, with individuals experiencing various degrees of © 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms severity and complications based on several factors, of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License. including age, pre-existing conditions, and lifestyle behaviors. Physical activity is one lifestyle factor that has been suggested to potentially offer protection against viral infections, including COVID-19. This study investigates the protective effect of daily physical activity in preventing or mitigating COVID-19 outcomes in a young adult population on Reunion Island, an overseas French territory. Data was collected via surveys distributed to university students and young adults between the ages of 18 and 30, to understand the correlation between physical activity levels and the severity of COVID-19 symptoms experienced. The findings suggest that young adults who engaged in regular physical activity reported significantly fewer severe symptoms and faster recovery rates compared to their inactive counterparts. This study highlights the potential benefits of maintaining physical activity during pandemics and provides recommendations for public health strategies to incorporate exercise into disease prevention programs. Keywords: COVID-19, physical activity, young adults, Reunion Island, disease prevention, public health, exercise, immunity, daily physical activity. Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, emerged as a global health crisis in 2019, and its effects continue to be felt worldwide. While the majority of COVID-19 cases result in mild to moderate symptoms, certain populations, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, are at a higher risk of severe disease. However, a significant International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health Research 01 https://ijmsphr.com/index.php/ijmsphr International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health Research portion of young adults, particularly those without pre- It is now recognized that regular physical activity could existing medical conditions, have experienced milder play a crucial role in mitigating the severity of infections, cases or remained asymptomatic. Research has been including viral diseases such as COVID-19. conducted on various factors that may contribute to On Reunion Island, an overseas French territory located this differential disease severity, and one factor that in the Indian Ocean, young adults represent a has gained attention is physical activity. substantial portion of the population. The island, with a Physical activity is known to have a broad range of population of approximately 850,000, is home to health benefits, including enhancing immune function, diverse socio-economic groups, with a significant improving cardiovascular health, and reducing the risk number of young adults enrolled in universities or of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and entering the workforce. Given the dynamic nature of the hypertension. Additionally, emerging evidence virus and its ability to mutate into various strains, young suggests that physical activity may also play a adults, particularly in confined environments such as protective role against viral infections, including universities, have faced heightened exposure risks. As COVID-19. Regular physical activity enhances the the pandemic evolved, public health experts on the body's immune response by increasing the circulation island began to recognize the potential importance of of immune cells and reducing inflammation, which lifestyle interventions, such as maintaining physical may help mitigate the severity of viral infections. activity, in minimizing the impact of COVID-19 on young people. In Reunion Island, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, young adults represent a substantial Physical activity, whether in the form of aerobic portion of the population. Despite the relatively low exercises (running, walking, cycling), strength training, fatality rate in younger populations globally, the rapid or even daily movement such as walking or stretching, spread of COVID-19 and its potential long-term effects has been shown to enhance immune system function on public health in the region have raised concerns. and reduce inflammation, both of which are key factors This study aims to investigate the potential protective in combatting infections. Several studies have pointed effects of daily physical activity against COVID-19 to the immune-modulating effects of physical activity, severity among young adults on Reunion Island, showing that it helps to boost the circulation of immune focusing on their symptom severity, recovery rate, and cells and promote a balanced inflammatory response, overall health status during the pandemic. which could potentially lessen the severity of viral infections like COVID-19. Exercise has also been shown The COVID-19 p