Skip to main content

Table 3 Prevalence of physical inactivity among adults based on findings from published literature

From: Physical inactivity, gender and culture in Arab countries: a systematic assessment of the literature

Country

First author, year (year of study)

Source

Definition

Instrument

Prevalence (%)

Age range

Sample size

National samples

 Comoros

Guthold, 2008 (2002-2003)

World Health Survey

<600 MET-minutes/week

IPAQ

2.7

18-69

1492

 Jordan

Zindah, 2008 (2004)

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Not engaging in moderate activity (resulting in light sweating, small increases in breathing or heart rate.

NA

51.8

18+

710

 Kuwait

Ahmed, 2013 (2002-2009)

National Nutrition Surveillance Data

No deliberate non-work related exercise outside the home such as walking, running or cycling

NA

68.4

20+

32811

Al-Zenki, 2012 (2008-2009)

NA

Neither moderately nor very activea

NA

77.1

20+

765

Alarouj, 2013 (NA)

NA

Neither moderate nor vigorous physical activitya

NA

63.0

20-65

1970

 KSA

Al-Baghli, 2008 (2004-2005)

NA

No physical activity or mild physical activity (ordinary housework, walking)

NA

79.2

30+

197681

Al-Nozha, 2007 (1995-2000)

Coronary Artery Disease in Saudis Study (CADISS)

<600 MET-minutes/week

NA

96.1

30-70

17395

Memish, 2014 (2013)

Saudi Health Information Survey

Neither moderate nor vigorous physical activitya

IPAQ

69.1

15+

10735

 Lebanon

Farah, 2015 (2013-2014)

NA

Neither moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 150 min per week or vigorous intensity physical activity for 75 min at least per week

NA

76.0

40+

1515

Tohme, 2005 (2003-2004)

NA

Less than 30 min of physical exercise

NA

40.3

30+

954

 Mauritania

Guthold, 2008 (2002-2003)

World Health Survey

<600 MET-minutes/week

IPAQ

61.9

18-49

1492

 Morocco

El Rhazi, 2011 (2008)

NA

Less than 30 min per day

 

38.7

18+

2620

Najdi, 2011 (2008)

NA

<3METs

IPAQ

16.5

18-99

2613

 Palestine

Baron-Epel, 2005 (2002-2003)

KAP and EUROCHIS&

Exercising less than once per week for at least 20 consecutive minutesb

NA

62.8

21+

1826c

 Tunisia

Guthold, 2008 (2002-2003)

World Health Survey

<600 MET-minutes/week

IPAQ

14.6

18-69

4332

 UAE

Guthold, 2008 (2002-2003)

World Health Survey

<600 MET-minutes/week

IPAQ

43.2

18-69

1104

Subnational samplesd

 Bahrain

Al-Mahroos, 2001 (NA)

NA

<1 km walking

WHO Heart and Health Questionnaire

77.5

40-69

2013

Hamadeh, 2000 (NA)

NA

No exercise

NA

89.1

30-79

516

 Egypt

Abolfotouh, 2007 (2002-2003)

NA

No non-vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes or 3 times per week

NA

33.8

17-25

600

Kamel, 2013 (2010-2011)

NA

NA

NA

63.8

60+

340

Mahfouz, 2014 (2011)

NA

No exercise

NA

78.3

NA

300

 Jordan

Centers for Disease, Control, Prevention, 2003 (2002)

Jordan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Less than having moderate: activity that caused light sweating and small increases in heart rate or breathing for 30 minutes

NA

47.4

18+

8791

Mohannad, 2008 (2002)

NA

No activity that caused light sweating and small increases in heart rate or breathing

NA

58.7

40+

3083

Kulwicki, 2001 (NA)

NA

No exercise

NA

22.5

17-93

209

Madanat, 2006 (2003)

NA

<30 mins of physical activity/week

NA

81.5

Mean: 21.1

431

 KSA

Almurshed, 2009 (2003-2004)

NA

No exercise

NA

52.0

30+

50

Al-Quaiz, 2009 (2007)

NA

Not practicing in any regular sport and leisure time physical activity

CDC web site questionnaire

82.4

15-80

450

Al-Senany, 2015 (NA)

NA

Less than one hour weekly activity

NA

69.0

60-90

55

Amin, 2011 (NA)

NA

<600 MET-minutes/week

GPAQ

48.0

18-64

2176

Amin, 2014 (NA)

NA

<30 minutes /≥ 5 days/week

GPAQe

80.0

18-78

2127

Awadalla, 2004 (2012-2013)

NA

Neither vigorous: >6 METs nor moderate: 3-6 METs

IPAQ (short form)

58.0

17-25

1257

Garawi, 2015 (2004-2005)

NA

<600 MET-minutes/week

GPAQ

67.0

15-64

4758

 Kuwait

Naser Al-Isa, 2011 (NA)f

NA

Not engaging in regular physical activity

NA

45.0

NA

787

 Lebanon

Al-Tannir, 2008 (2007)

NA

Less than 3 days/week

NA

44.5

18+

346

Musharrafieh, 2008 (2001)

NA

Physical exercise for <0.5 h/week

NA

73.6

Mean: 21.0

2013

Tamim, 2003 (2000-2001)

NA

<3 hours/week

NA

64.3

Mean: 21.0

1964

 Mauritania

Guthold, 2008 (2002-2003)

World Health Survey

<600 MET-minutes/week

IPAQ

61.9

18-49

2726

 Palestine

Abdul-Rahim, 2003 (NA)

NA

Occupation-related sedentary-light PA for men AND no exercise for women

NA

56.2

30-65

936

Abu-Mourad, 2008 (2005)

NA

No home exercise or sports

NA

78.0

18+

956

 Qatar

Al-Nakeeb, 2015 (NA)

NA

<840 MET-min/week

NA

50. 8g

Mean= 21.2

732

Bener, 2004 (2003)

NA

Not walking, cycling at least 30 minutes/day

NA

55.3

25-65

1208

 Somalia

Ali, 2015 (2013)

NA

<2 hours/week

NA

33.5

18-29

173

 Syria

Al Ali, 2011 (2006)

2nd Aleppo Household Survey

Less than 15 mins/ week of sport or brisk walking

NA

82.3

25+

1168

 Tunisia

Maatoug, 2009 (2009)

NA

<150 mins/week of moderate level of physical activity

Oxford Health Alliance Community Intervention for Health Project

44.4

Mean: 37.9

1880

 UAE

Abdulle, 2006 (2001-2005)

NA

Less than one hour, <3 times per week

NA

39.4

20-75

424h

McIlvenny, 2000 (NA)

NA

No regular exercise

NA

54.0

18-94

254

Sabri, 2004 (2001-2002)

NA

< 1 hour/week) of sport

NA

47.5

20-65

436

  1. aDefinition of physical activity not specified
  2. bIt includes: walking, running, swimming playing ball games or any other sports activities (combined every day and nearly every day with once or twice a week)
  3. cPrevalence rate for Arabs only
  4. dOne study conducted in Libya by Salam (2012) was excluded from the prevalence table; it includes adolescents and youth (17-24 years) and the prevalence was 65.0%
  5. eCombined Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) version 2.0 with a modified show card based on World Health Organization STEPs survey
  6. fKuwaiti college students
  7. gOnly Qatari students
  8. hOnly normotensives