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Female University Students' Physical Activity Levels and Associated Factors-A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

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Author

  • Atika Khalaf
  • Orjan Ekblom
  • Jan Kowalski
  • Vanja Berggren
  • Albert Westergren
  • Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa

Summary, in English

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.

Publishing year

2013

Language

English

Pages

3502-3517

Publication/Series

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Volume

10

Issue

8

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

MDPI AG

Topic

  • Environmental Health and Occupational Health

Keywords

  • epidemiologic methods
  • Middle East
  • women's health
  • Saudi Arabia
  • physical activity
  • female university students
  • cross-sectional studies
  • socioeconomic factors

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1660-4601