Correlates of Omani adults’ physical inactivity and sitting time

Abstract

Objective: To inform public health approaches for chronic disease prevention, the present study identified sociodemographic, anthropometric and behavioural correlates of work, transport and leisure physical inactivity and sitting time among adults in Oman. Design: Cross-sectional study using the WHO STEPwise study methodology. Setting: Sur City, Oman. Subjects: Men and women aged 20 years and older (n 1335) in the Sur City Healthy Lifestyle Study who had complete data for demographic variables (gender, age, education, work status and marital status), BMI and behavioural risk factors -smoking and dietary habits plus physical inactivity and sitting time (the outcome variables). Results: The highest level of physical inactivity was in the leisure domain (55?4 %); median sitting time was about 2 h/d. Gender-stratified logistic regression models found that the statistically significant (P , 0?05) correlates of inactivity (in one or more domains) were age, work status and fruit and vegetable intake in women, and age, education, work status, marital status and BMI in men. Gender-stratified linear regression models found that the statistically significant correlates of sitting time were age, work status and BMI in women and education in men. Conclusions: Findings suggest that public health interventions need to be gender responsive and focus on domain-specific physical inactivity. In the Omani context, this might include gender-segregated exercise facilities to promote leisure physical activity among women and walking-friendly environmental initiatives to promote transport physical activity among men. Further evidence on barriers to physical activity and factors that influence prolonged sitting is required to develop relevant public health interventions.

Descriptive epidemiology of physical activity among Omani adults: the Oman World Health Survey, 2008

“…A national survey reported that 67% of men and 59% of women met physical activity guidelines (9), while another survey, among college students, reported that 56.6% of men and 42.2% of women college students met these guidelines (10). Findings from the city of Sur in the east of Oman found that women were more active in the work domain compared with men, that men were more active in the transport and leisure domains, and that physical activity had an inverse association with the presence of metabolic syndrome (11). Here we report on the prevalence and correlates of domain-specific physical activity among Omani adults at the national level and consider the implications for the prevention of major noncommunicable diseases.…”

“…A study in Sur, Oman, found a similar association among men of all ages for the leisure domain only, but not among women (11). Similarly, young unmarried women in Saudi Arabia have been found to be less active than married women (23).…”

Fatores Associados À Prática De Atividade Física Em Homens De Meia-Idade

“…Há evidências de que baixos níveis de escolaridade e renda estão relacionados a uma chance diminuida no engajamento em AF moderadas à vigorosas e de lazer 22 . Em relação a intensidade de AF praticada neste estudo, curiosamente ambos os grupos etários apresentaram maior prevalência em atividades de caminhada, seguida da atividade moderada, enquanto é observado na literatura que os homens, usualmente, praticam atividades vigorosas 23 . Entretanto deve-se levar em conta, que os resultados na literatura consideram amostras com idade de até 35 anos, na qual há elevada prática de AF principalmente no lazer, com atividades como futebol e musculação.…”

“…Entretanto deve-se levar em conta, que os resultados na literatura consideram amostras com idade de até 35 anos, na qual há elevada prática de AF principalmente no lazer, com atividades como futebol e musculação. Ao passar dos anos o interesse por tais atividades se modifica, preferindo-se atividades mais leves, como a caminhada, sendo a mais comum em populações com idade superior a 40 anos [23][24][25] . Nesta perspectiva, considerando a intensidade da AF, neste estudo identificou-se influência da percepção de saúde.…”

Study protocol for “MOVEdiabetes”: a trial to promote physical activity for adults with type 2 diabetes in primary health care in Oman

“…Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-Short) and locally developed questionnaires), the population estimate for adults meeting WHO PA recommendations in Arab countries is around 40% for men and 27% for women [10]. A regional study in Sur (north-east coast of Oman), using GPAQ, showed the highest levels of physical inactivity were in leisure time (55%) and the median sitting time was about two hours/day [11]. …”