Physical Activity Levels of a Multi-Ethnic Population of Young Men Living in Saudi Arabia and Factors Associated With Physical Inactivity

Abstract

ObjectiveRegular physical activity is essential for lifelong optimal health. Contrarily, physical inactivity is linked with risk for many chronic diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the physical activity levels and factors associated with physical inactivity among a multi-ethnic population of young men living in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study involving 3,600 young men (20–35 years) living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic and physical activity data were collected from subjects by face-to-face interviews. Physical activity characteristics were evaluated by using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Weight and height were measured following standardized methods, then body mass index was calculated.ResultsPhysical inactivity was reported among 24.9% of study subjects. The lowest and highest rates of physical inactivity were reported among subjects from the Philippines (14.0%) and Saudi Arabia (41.5%), respectively. There is a high variation in daily minutes spent on physical activities related to work, transport, recreation, vigorous and moderate-intensity physical activities and sedentary behaviors among study participants based on their nationalities. Nationality, increasing age, longer residency period in Saudi Arabia, living within a family household, having a high education level, earning a high monthly income, and increasing body mass index were significantly associated with a higher risk of physical inactivity among the study participants.ConclusionPhysical inactivity prevalence is relatively high among a multi-ethnic population of young men living in Saudi Arabia. The findings confirmed notable disparities in the physical activity characteristics among participants from different countries living in Saudi Arabia.

Breakfast Skipping among a Multi-Ethnic Population of Young Men and Relationship with Sociodemographic Determinants and Weight Status

“…The finding that participants with higher income had a higher odds ratio of breakfast skipping could be explained by the higher obesity prevalence observed among men with high income. In Saudi Arabia, financially stable men usually have office-type jobs reflecting low physical activity levels and a sedentary lifestyle [ 43 ]. This makes them more susceptible to obesity and affects their dietary behavior by skipping breakfast to lose weight.…”

Differences in Overweight and Obesity Prevalence in Middle-Aged Men from Twelve Middle Eastern and Asian Countries Living in Saudi Arabia

“…In contrast, a high proportion of Saudi men have low physical activity levels and spend much time doing sedentary activities. 26 , 29 …”

“…In general, adults with aging tend to engage in less physical activities and adopt more sedentary lifestyles. 26 , 29 , 31 Extended residency in Saudi Arabia was linked to a higher risk of being overweight or obese among participants, which could be justified by the urbanization and development commonly seen in Saudi Arabia and their impact on adults’ lifestyle choices. 19 Emigrants’ health is expected to worsen with increasing the length of time spent in a new community.…”

Sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in a multi-ethnic population of middle-aged men and association with sociodemographic variables and obesity

“…The data for this study were derived from a research project named the Relationship between Obesity, physical Activity, and Dietary pattern among men in KSA (ROAD-KSA) ( 15 , 16 , 19 – 22 ). It is a cross-sectional research project that took place in Riyadh, KSA, from February to June 2019.…”

“…In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), adult obesity is a serious health issue accompanied by unhealthy lifestyle choices such as physical inactivity and poor diet, including high consumption of SSBs (12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Indeed, KSA is the top oil producer in the Middle East region, and its economy is rising quickly.…”