Lack of facilities rather than sociocultural factors as the primary barrier to physical activity among female Saudi university students

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographics and eating habits of female Saudi university students

Sociodemographics (n=77)	Mean ± SD or n (%)
BMI (kg/m^2)	22.4±4.4
Age (y)	20.0±0.7
Father’s education
High	41 (53.2%)
Mother’s education
High	31 (40.3%)
Father working outside
Yes	61 (79.2%)
Mother working outside
Yes	18 (23.4%)
Housekeeping
Yes	52 (67.5%)
Members of family ill in the last year
Yes	26 (33.8%)
Eating habits
Daily breakfast	28 (36.4%)
Daily vegetables	17 (22.1%)
Daily fruit	4 (5.2%)
Daily dairy	26 (33.8%)
Soft drinks >3 times/week	32 (41.6%)
Fast food >3 times/week	32 (41.6%)
French fries >3 times/week	36 (46.8%)
Cakes >3 times/week	35 (45.5%)
Sweets >3 times/week	50 (64.9%)
Energy drinks >3 times/week	3 (3.9%)

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; SD, standard deviation; y, years.

Table 2 Physical activity levels for individual activities, for the categories of “moderate”, “high”, and “total” in terms of min/week and MET min/week for female Saudi university students

Individual physical activity (n=68)	Mean ± SD
Walk (min/week)	101±114
Stairs (min/week)	13±12
Run/jog (min/week)	16±26
Cycle (min/week)	6±24
Swim (min/week)	14±40
Moderate intensity sports (min/week)	68±175
Self-defense (min/week)	0±1.8
Weight training/body building (min/week)	12±25
Household work (min/week)	90±150
Individual physical activity (aMET) (n=68)
Walk (MET min/week)	371±438
Stairs (MET min/week)	102±94
Run/jog (MET min/week)	127±208
Cycle (MET min/week)	48±195
Swim (MET min/week)	56±160
Moderate intensity sports (MET min/week)	273±701
Self-defense (MET min/week)	2±15
Weight training/body building (MET min/week)	94±202
Household work (MET min/week)	269±449
Total minutes of physical activity (n=68)
Moderate (min/week)	267±269
High (min/week)	47±53
Total (min/week)	317±289
Total MET minutes of physical activity (n=68)
Moderate (MET min/week)	957±1,005
High (MET min/week)	372±422
Total (MET min/week)	1,339±1,213
bSedentariness (h/day)	6.2±3.5

Notes:

a Metabolic Equivalent Task value

b 90 observations available for this variable

Abbreviations: h, hours; MET, Metabolic Equivalent Task; min, minutes; n, number of students; SD, standard deviation.

Table 3 Behaviors related to physical activity from Arab Teens Lifestyle questions for female Saudi university students

Places for physical activity (n=78)	Yes
Home	72 (92.3%)
School	13 (16.7%)
Park/public	15 (19.2%)
Sports	2 (2.6%)
Club	7 (9.0%)
Other	3 (3.8%)
With whom
Alone	62 (79.5%)
Friends	19 (24.4%)
School peers	5 (6.4%)
Parents	11 (14.1%)
Other relatives	8 (10.3%)
Other	12 (15.4%)
When
Morning	32 (41.0%)
Noon	3 (3.8%)
Afternoon	13 (16.7%)
Evening	25 (32.0%)
After evening meal	10 (12.8%)
No specific time	31 (39.7%)
Reasons for physical activity
Health	56 (71.8%)
To lose weight	39 (50.0%)
Social	4 (5.1%)
Recreation	10 (12.8%)
Competiton	5 (6.4%)
Others	10 (12.8%)

Abbreviation: n, number of students.

Table 4 BARSE scale individual items for female Saudi university students

BARSE items (n=89)	Mean ± SD
Bad weather	36±23
Bored by program/activity	37±21
Vacation	61±29
Not interested in the activity	36±23
Pain when exercising	38±27
Exercise alone	59±31
Not fun or enjoyable	39±26
Difficult to get to exercise location	44±27
Did not like the activity involved in	34±22
Schedule problems	35±27
Self-conscious about appearance	46±31
No encouragement from instructor	44±29
Under personal stress	39±26
BARSE average	42±14

Abbreviations: BARSE, Barriers Self-Efficacy Scale; n, number of students; SD, standard deviation.

Table 5 Physical activity and sex, attitudes, and self-image for female Saudi university students

Students, n=90	Agree	Neutral	Disagree
If I want to lose weight, I would change my diet rather than engage in physical activity	30 (33%)	21 (23%)	39 (44%)
In my mind, a healthy body shape has curves	54 (60%)	25 (28%)	11 (12%)
It is important that a woman has a fit and healthy body shape	88 (98%)	2 (2%)	0 (0%)
It is easier for men than women to be physically active	60 (66%)	16 (18%)	14 (16%)
Men are more physically active than women	53 (60%)	15 (17%)	21 (23%)