Sleep and exercise changed students' health during COVID-19

On September 24, 2026, a research group announced a new study about the health of university students. The group is led by Yujiro Yamanaka, an associate professor^*1 at a school of education.

The study looked at students in Hokkaido, a large island in the north of Japan. COVID-19 spread there early, before most other parts of Japan. At that time, universities were closed for a period. The researchers^*2 looked closely at how the students' health changed while the universities were closed. They found that the students' health got worse during this time.

The researchers also found the main reasons for these changes. Changes in sleep and changes in exercise were the main causes when the students' health got worse. They were also the main causes when the students' health got better.

1. *1 associate professor: a teacher at a university, one step below a full professor
2. *2 researchers: people who study something carefully to find new facts