The PRO-CARE Group, School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013 Aug 9;10(8):3502-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph10083502.
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.
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.
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.
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.
在沙特阿拉伯，身体活动不足的高患病率是对公共卫生的一个日益严峻的挑战。本研究旨在调查女大学生身体活动（PA）的流行情况及其相关因素。
本横断面研究纳入了 663 名随机抽取的女大学生，他们完成了阿拉伯青少年生活方式问卷。数据包括人体测量、社会经济和环境因素以及自我报告的身体活动的测量。使用有序回归来确定与低、中、高 PA 水平相关的因素。
参与者的平均年龄为 20.4 岁（SD 1.5）。学生的平均 BMI 与 PA 相关，分别为 23.0、22.9、22.1，代表高水平、中水平和低水平的活动。分析显示，已婚学生、母亲受过高等教育的学生、居住离公园较远的学生身体活动水平显著较高，而体重不足的学生身体活动水平较低。
本研究提出了女大学生 PA 水平的四个重要决定因素。这些因素对于预防与身体活动不足模式相关的健康威胁增加以及非传染性疾病和肥胖至关重要，重点应放在沙特阿拉伯妇女的具体情况和需求上。
