Levels and correlates of physical activity, inactivity and body mass index among Saudi women working in office jobs in Riyadh city

BMC Women's Health

Research Article

Hoda Jradi¹  Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa²  Nada M. Albawardi³ 

[1] Community and Environmental Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Emeritus Professor and Former Director of Pediatric Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Prince Sultan Center for Special Education Support Services, Po Box 75246, 11578, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

关键词: Physical activity;    Obesity;    Overweight;    Saudi Arabia;    Women;    Office workers;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12905-016-0312-8

 received in 2015-06-18, accepted in 2016-06-17,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPhysical inactivity is among the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Saudi Arabia has just begun to address physical inactivity as recent studies have shown an alarming prevalence of insufficiently physically active adults. Saudi women are identified as among the most overweight/obese and least active worldwide. With an increase in the number of women in office based jobs, the risk of physical inactivity is likely to increase. Identifying the level and correlates for high BMI and physical inactivity in Saudi women will help to plan more effective public health strategies.The aim of this study is to assess the level of physical activity, inactivity and body mass index among Saudi women working in office based jobs in Riyadh city and identify the correlates for overweight, obesity and low physical activity.MethodsA cross- sectional study was conducted on 420 Saudi women aged 18 to 58 years working in office based jobs in eight worksites in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Body mass index was determined using weight and height measurements and physical activity was assessed based on a validated self-administered questionnaire.ResultsThe majority of the subjects were overweight or obese (58.3 %). Overweight/obesity was associated with increased age, lower income and with those working in the public versus private sector. More than half of the sample (52.1 %) were insufficiently physically active. Participants working seven or more hours per day and those working in private versus public sector were significantly associated with low physical activity.ConclusionThis study identified Saudi women working in office based jobs as a high risk group for overweight, obesity and physical inactivity. As sedentary jobs may compound the risk for obesity and physical inactivity, this may support the use of workplace health programs to reduce sitting time and promote physical activity as a viable public health initiative.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Albawardi et al. 2016