Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity is crucial to preventing noncommunicable diseases. This study aimed to provide up-to-date evidence on the epidemiology of insufficient physical activity across Nigeria to increase awareness and prompt relevant policy and public health response.MethodsA systematic literature search of community-based studies on physical inactivity was conducted. We constructed a meta-regression epidemiologic model to determine the age-adjusted prevalence and number of physically inactive persons in Nigeria for 1995 and 2020.ResultsFifteen studies covering a population of 13 814 adults met our selection criteria. The pooled crude prevalence of physically inactive persons in Nigeria was 52.0% (95% CI: 33.7–70.4), with prevalence in women higher at 55.8% (95% CI: 29.4–82.3) compared to men at 49.3% (95% CI: 24.7–73.9). Across settings, prevalence of physically inactive persons was significantly higher among urban dwellers (56.8%, 35.3–78.4) compared to rural dwellers (18.9%, 11.9–49.8). Among persons aged 20–79 years, the total number of physically inactive persons increased from 14.4 million to 48.6 million between 1995 and 2020, equivalent to a 240% increase over the 25-year period.ConclusionsA comprehensive and robust strategy that addresses occupational policies, town planning, awareness and information, and sociocultural and contextual issues is crucial to improving physical activity levels in Nigeria.
Highlights
Physical inactivity has been described as a global pandemic, partly responsible for the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) across world regions.[1]
After duplicates have been removed, 267 titles were screened for relevance
Our study broadly suggests about 50 million persons in Nigeria do not engage in su cient physical activity on a weekly basis in 2020, using the World Health Organization (WHO) reference, representing an ageadjusted prevalence of 58%
Summary
Physical inactivity has been described as a global pandemic, partly responsible for the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) across world regions.[1] In 2015, physical inactivity directly contributed to 21% of breast cancers, 25% of colon cancers, 27% of diabetes and 30% of ischemic heart diseases globally.[2] In sub-Saharan African, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated about three million physical inactivity-related deaths in 2014.3 The benefits of staying physically active have been well documented; about a quarter of the global adult population do not currently meet the WHO recommendations of staying active. This study aimed to provide up-to-date evidence on the epidemiology of insuf cient physical activity across Nigeria to increase awareness and prompt relevant policy and public health response. Conclusions A comprehensive and robust strategy that addresses occupational policies, town planning, awareness and information, and sociocultural and contextual issues is crucial to improving physical activity levels in Nigeria
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