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 |