Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: April | Volume: 7 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 199-209
Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors and Dietary Habits among Adults Living in Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dr Abdulrahman M. Alhwaikan1, Prof. Sulaiman Abdullah Alshammar2
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2925, Riyadh 11461,
Saudi Arabia
2Department of Family and Community Medicine, Chair of Health Education and Health Promotion, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Corresponding Author: Dr Abdulrahman M. Alhwaikan
ABSTRACT
Study Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the differences in weight status, obesity and patterns of physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors (SB) and dietary habits (DH) in relation to gender and age of adults living in city of Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Methods: A total of 128 males and 129 females (years) were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, body mass index (BMI), screen time (television viewing, and computer use), physical activity and dietary habits. The validated self-report questionnaire relating to patterns of PA, sedentary activity SA and DH allows the calculation of total energy expenditure in metabolic equivalent (MET-min) values per week.
Results: levels of PA, SB and DH were evident among the adults, with females being generally spent more time in moderate and vigorous –intensity physical activity/ week and were more physically active than males. The adults with higher BMI reported lower levels of PA and higher amounts of sedentary time. All adults- male and female did not meet the recommended daily physical activity levels (³ 2520 MET-min/week, moderate to vigorous intensity and spending more than 2h/d guidelines recommended screen time. The large majority of the adults (males &females) reported skipping breakfast.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the diverse nature of obesity, overweight and patterns of PA, SB and DH of adults in different Saudi populations
Key words: Physical activity, Sedentary behaviours, Dietary habits male and female Adult