Energy balance
Low physical activity (defined as ≤600 MET min/week) is highly prevalent (69.4%) in the Saudi adult population and is a primary driver of elevated cardiovascular disease risk, particularly when combined with obesity and unhealthy diet.
In this population, nearly 7 out of 10 adults do not meet basic physical activity guidelines. This is a major contributor to heart disease risk. Prioritize increasing daily movement, even if it starts with small steps like walking, to counteract the high prevalence of inactivity.
Overall, 69.4% had low physical activity... Compared to middle-aged and older individuals, younger participants more commonly reported an unhealthy diet, permanent stress, and feeling sad... The prevalence of abdominal obesity... was 49%.
Why this rating
Cross-sectional observational study with self-reported data; establishes association but not causation.
Source
Demographic, behavioral, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Saudi population: results from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study (PURE-Saudi)
Khalid F. AlHabib et al. · BMC Public Health · 2020
DOI 10.1186/s12889-020-09298-w
More from this paper
- Obesity (BMI ≥30) affects nearly half (49.6%) of the Saudi adult population, with women having significantly higher rates of obesity (BMI >35) and central obesity compared to men.Moderate
- Rural residents in Saudi Arabia have higher prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension compared to urban residents, challenging the assumption that urbanization is the sole driver of CVD risk.Moderate
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