Determinants of and barriers to physical activity for women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) has been linked to a variety of health benefits, disease prevention, and treatment. Understanding cultural influences are important for the effective promotion of PA. This study examined PA among women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the determinants and barriers to it. The research was conducted through a cross-sectional survey. The Arab Teens Lifestyle (ATLS) questionnaire was completed by 1238 randomly selected women in Jeddah. It includes the repetitions and average duration of different types of physical activities per typical week. In addition, the participants self-reported their anthropometric measurements. Results: 76.4% met the minimum requirement for moderately vigorous physical activity (MVPA), but only 19.5% met both MVPA and muscle-strengthening activity (MSA). The two main barriers to participation in PA are the lack of sports facilities and time constraints. The number of comorbidities, calculated body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were significant determinants of PA (R2 =.27) Conclusion: Women largely ignore MSA despite engaging in a high percentage of MVPA. The presence of comorbidities and obesity are the most important determinants of PA. Finally, these data can be used to develop early interventions to promote health instead of managing complications. Keywords: Physical Activity, Obesity, Barriers, Determinants, Women, Sports, Saudi Arabia.