BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The occurrence and progress of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is associated with unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors. Modification of barriers to healthy lifestyle can produce great benefits. The objective of this study was to identify barriers to physical activity and healthy eating among patients attending primary health care clinics in Riyadh city.PATIENTS AND METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh city. Four hundred and fifty participants attending primary health care clinics (PHCC) from 1 March to 30 April 2007 were randomly selected. A questionnaire about barriers to physical activity and healthy eating was adapted from the CDC web site.RESULTS:The prevalence of physical inactivity among the Saudi population in the study was 82.4% (371/450). Females were more physically inactive (87.6%, 268/306) compared to males (71.5%, 103/144) (P<.001). The most common barrier to physical activity was lack of resources (80.5%, 326/405), which was significantly higher among females than males and among the lower income versus the higher income group. The most common barrier to healthy diet was lack of willpower. More than four-fifths (80.3%, 354/441) of the study group stated that they did not have enough will to stick to a diet.CONCLUSION:Lack of resources was the most important barrier for physical activity, while lack of willpower and social support were both barriers for adherence to physical activity and a healthy diet.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESViolence against women (VAW) is a worldwide problem that adversely affects women physically, psychologically, sexually, and financially. The aim of this study was to investigate (1) the rate of self-reported physical violence from husbands among women who presented to outpatient clinics of a major teaching hospital (2) the variables associated with VAW and (3) the pattern and the consequences of abuse on the victims’ healthDESIGN AND SETTINGSThis cross-sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period, commencing in December 2009 at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.METHODSWomen attending outpatient clinics regularly at KKUH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were eligible for the study. The WHO VAW Instrument was used with some modifications to accommodate for the local culture.RESULTSA total of 222 Saudi women whose age ranged from 15 to 70 years were enrolled in the study. The rate of physical violence in the current study was 12.2%. Statistically significant associations were found between the self-reporting of VAW and the physical abuse of their husbands during childhood (odds ratio [OR]=8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2, 28.5, P=.002). Similarly living in rented houses resulted in higher likelihood of the wife being abused (OR=4.23, CI: 1.706, 10.49, P=.002). The likelihood increased if there was a history of wives being abused as a child (OR=3.563, CI: 1.438, 8.824, P=.008) and if their husbands were unemployed (OR=5.29, CI: 1.6, 17.57, P=.012). Furthermore, women who described family life as bad or disastrous were found more likely to be physically abused (OR=5.8, CI: 2.3, 14.5, P=.001).CONCLUSIONVAW is a significant social and public health problem in the Saudi society. Health professionals may need to consider the diagnosis, when the risk factors identified in the current study are found.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESResearch on menopause in Arab women is limited. The aim of our study was to assess the commonly experienced symptoms of menopause and their severity among Saudi women.DESIGN AND SETTINGA cross-sectional study conducted at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.PATIENTS AND METHODSFour hundred and ninety healthy women aged 40–55 years and either attending KKUH themselves or accompanying their relatives in outpatient clinics participated in the study. The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used to assess menopausal symptoms and severity.RESULTSThe mean (SD) age of the women in menopause was 47.9 (6.03) years. The most frequent symptoms were muscle and joint problems occurring in 411 women (83.9%), physical and mental exhaustion in 393 (80.2%), heart discomfort in 358 (73.1%), sleeping disorders in 349 (71.2%), hot flashes in 348 (71.0%), and irritability in 348 (71.0%); in addition, 179 (36.5%) of these women experienced severe psychological distress. Perimenopausal women had higher total and subscales scorings for somatic symptoms than did premenopausal and postmenopausal women (P=.008).CONCLUSIONThe number of Saudi women reporting hot flashes and night sweats was comparable to the number of Western women. In addition, somatic symptoms were more prevalent among perimenopausal than among premenopausal women.