Energy balance
Reducing daily step counts from ~10,500 to ~1,344 for two weeks causes a 17% decline in skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, a 7% decrease in cardiovascular fitness, and a 3% reduction in lean leg mass.
Do not assume that staying home for a short period is metabolically neutral. If you cannot maintain your usual activity levels, you must actively manage your energy intake and incorporate movement (even small bouts) to prevent rapid declines in insulin sensitivity and muscle mass.
when healthy young men decreased their daily activity levels from 10,501 to 1,344 steps/day for just two weeks, they experienced a 17% decline in skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, a 7% decrease in cardiovascular fitness, and a 3% reduction in lean leg mass [7]
Why this rating
The claim is based on a specific cited study (Krogh-Madsen et al., Ref 7) involving healthy young men, which provides strong mechanistic evidence, though the paper itself is a review.
Source
The Challenge of Maintaining Metabolic Health During a Global Pandemic
Andy J. King et al. · Sports Medicine · 2020
DOI 10.1007/s40279-020-01295-8
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