Abstract
Background: The high prevalence of physical inactivity in Saudi Arabia is a growing challenge to public health. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of physical activity (PA) and associated factors among female university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 663 randomly selected female university students who completed the Arab Teens Life Style questionnaire. Data included measurements of anthropometric, socioeconomic and environmental factors, as well as self-reported PA. Ordinal regression was used to identify associated factors with low, moderate and high PA levels. Results: The mean age of participants was 20.4 years (SD 1.5). Mean BMI of the students in relation to PA were 23.0, 22.9, 22.1 for high, moderate and low levels of activity, respectively. The analysis revealed significantly higher PA levels among married students, those with high educated mothers, and those who lived far from parks, and lower activity levels among underweight students. Conclusions: This study raises four important determinants for female university students’ PA levels. These factors could be of great importance in the endeavor to prevent the health-threatening increase in physical inactivity patterns and thus non-communicable diseases and obesity where the focus should be on the specific situation and needs of women in Saudi Arabia.
Highlights
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has experienced a rapid progress in improving the health and well-being of its people during the past few decades [1]
43% of the participants in the middle tertile met these guidelines, while 14% of the same group met the recommendations for vigorous-intensity activity (Table 1)
Failed to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for moderate-intensity activity and 24% did not fulfill the requirements for vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA)
Summary
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has experienced a rapid progress in improving the health and well-being of its people during the past few decades [1]. The prevalence of physical inactivity in the Saudi society ranged from 43% to as high as 99% in certain segments of the population [3]. Males reported more frequent participation in high intensity PA than their female counterparts [5], a finding that is consistent with global PA statistics [6]. The high prevalence of physical inactivity in Saudi Arabia is a growing challenge to public health. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of physical activity (PA) and associated factors among female university students. Ordinal regression was used to identify associated factors with low, moderate and high PA levels. Mean BMI of the students in relation to PA were 23.0, 22.9, 22.1 for high, moderate and low levels of
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