Evaluation of Young Adults’ Physical Activity Status and Perceived Barriers in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of the Participants (n = 354)

Variables	(n)	(%)
Gender
Male	240	67.8
Female	114	32.2
Age (years)
24–34	221	62.4
35–44	133	37.6
Nationality
Saudi	322	91.0
Non-Saudi	32	9.0
Education
Secondary or equivalent	84	23.7
University	223	63.0
Master’s degree	36	10.2
Doctorate	11	3.1
Marital status
Married	158	44.6
Unmarried	196	55.4
Employment status
Employed	146	41.2
Unemployed	140	39.5
Student	10	2.8
Housewife	58	16.4
Monthly household income over the last 12 months
>7000 Saudi Riyals	193	54.5
8000–10, 000 Saudi Riyals	49	13.8
11–20, 000 Saudi Riyals	50	14.1
<21, 000 Saudi Riyals	62	17.5
Do you do any type of physical activity on weekly basis?
Yes	223	63.0
No	131	37.0

Figure 1 Flow chart of the study.

Figure 2 Most common types of physical activity.

Figure 3 Barriers of physical activity among participants.

Table 2 Time and Characteristics of Different Types of PA in a Typical Week

Variables	Frequency n (%)	Mean (SD)
Does your work involve a vigorous-intensity activity that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate like [carrying or lifting heavy loads, digging, or construction work] for at least 10 minutes continuously?
Yes	82 (23.2)
No	272(76.8)
In a typical week, how many days do you do vigorous-intensity activities as part of your work?		6.26(1.569) Median (6)
How much time do you spend doing vigorous-intensity activities at work on a typical day?		5.11(0.907) Median (5)
Does your work involve moderate-intensity activity that causes small increases in breathing or heart rate such as brisk walking [or carrying light loads] for at least 10 minutes continuously?
Yes	193(54.5%)	-----
No	161(45.5%)
In a typical week, how many days do you do moderate-intensity activities as part of your work?		6.00(1.74) Median (6)
How much time do you spend doing moderate-intensity activities at work on a typical day?		5.59(1.40) Median (6)
Do you walk or use a bicycle (pedal cycle) for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places?
Yes	141(39.8)	-----
No	213(60.2)
In a typical week, on how many days do you walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places		5.88(2.17) Median (7)
Do you do any vigorous-intensity sports, fitness, or recreational (leisure) activities that cause large increases in breathing or heart rate like [running or football,] for at least 10 minutes continuously?
Yes	176(49.7)	-------
No	178(50.3)
In a typical week, how many days do you do vigorous-intensity sports, fitness, or recreational (leisure) activities		4.63(1.51) Median (5)
How much time do you spend doing vigorous-intensity sports, fitness, or recreational activities on a typical day? (Please write the number of Hours)		8.34(1.191) Median (9)
Do you do any moderate-intensity sports, fitness, or recreational (leisure) activities that cause a small increase in breathing or heart rate such as brisk walking, (cycling, swimming, volleyball) for at least 10 minutes continuously?
Yes	130(36.7)	------
No	224(63.3)
How much time do you spend doing moderate-intensity sports, fitness, or recreational (leisure) activities on an atypical day		6.66(1.607) Median (8)
How much time do you usually spend sitting on a typical day?		9.55(4.887) Median (7)

Table 3 Frequency of Participants in Engaging Physical Activity on Weekly Basis

Physical Activity Questionnaire	0 Days n (%)	1 Day n (%)	2 Days n (%)	3 Days n (%)	4 Days n (%)	5 Days n (%)	6 Days n (%)	7 Days n (%)
How many days per week do you engage in vigorous-intensity activity?	116(32.8)	25(7.1)	125(35.3)	44(12.4)	22(6.2)	14(4.0)	6(1.7)	2(0.6)
How many days per week do you engage in moderate-intensity activities?	98(27.7)	42(11.9)	97(27.4)	53(15.0)	21(5.9)	33(9.3)	5(1.4)	5(1.4)
How many days per week do you engage in walking or bicycling for at least 10 minutes	103(29.1)	81(22.9)	43(12.1)	50(14.1)	13(3.7)	29(8.2)	7(2.0)	28(7.9)
How many days per week do you engage in vigorous-intensity sports, fitness, or recreational activities?	124(35.0)	103(29.1)	48(13.6)	32(9.0)	14(4.0)	27(7.6)	2(0.6)	4(1.1)
How many days per week do you engage in moderate-intensity sports, fitness, and activities?	178(50.3)	41(11.6)	53(15.0)	34(9.6)	12(3.4)	24(6.8)	3(0.8)	9(2.5)

Table 4 Cross-Tabulation Between the Participant’s Demographic Characters and Type of Physical Activity Engaged

Participants Characters	Walking n (%)	Swimming n (%)	Running n (%)	Playing Games n (%)	Body Building n (%)	Other Activities n (%)	I Do not Do Any Physical Activity n (%)	p-value
Gender
Male	106(66.3)	02(28.6)	10(90.9)	18(81.8)	32(71.1)	6(46.2)	66(68.8)	0.046*
Female	54(33.8)	05(71.4)	01(9.1)	04(18.2)	13(28.9)	07(53.8)	30(31.3)
Age (years)
24–34	104(65)	02(28.6)	06(54.5)	11(50)	30(66.7)	06(46.2)	62(64.6)	0.268*
35–44	56(35)	05(71.4)	05(45.5)	11(50)	15(33.3)	07(53.8)	34(35.4)
Education
Master’s degree	12(7.5)	01(14.3)	01(9.1)	03(13.6)	03(6.7)	0(0.0)	16(16.7)	0.001*
Doctorate	07(4.4)	02(28.6)	0(0.0)	0(0.0)	0(0.0)	02(15.4)	0(0.0)
Secondary	43(26.9)	02(28.6)	03(27.3)	02(9.1)	13(28.9)	01(7.7)	20(20.8)
University student	98(61.3)	02(28.6)	7(63.6)	17(77.3)	29(64.4)	10(76.9)	60(62.5)
Marital status
Married	82(51.2)	03(42.9)	05(45.5)	11(50.0)	16(35.6)	05(38.5)	36(37.5)	0.347
Unmarried	78(48.8)	04(57.1)	06(54.5)	11(50.0)	29(64.4)	08(61.5)	60(62.5)
Employment status
Housewife	36(22.5)	02(28.6)	04(36.4)	03(13.6)	02(4.4)	0(0.0)	11(11.5)
Unemployed	04(2.5)	0(0.0)	0(0.00)	0(0.00)	0(0.0)	02(15.4)	04(4.2)
Employed	61(38.1)	02(28.6)	01(0.0)	10(45.5)	23(51.1)	06(46.2)	43(44.8)
Student	59(36.9)	03(42.9)	06(54.5)	09(40.9)	20(44.4)	05(38.5)	38(39.6)	0.029*

Note: *Fisher exact test.

Table 5 Influence of Age, Gender and Nationality on Their Physical Activity Status

Participants Characters	Physical Activity on Weekly Basis		P-value
	Yes N (%)	No n (%)
Gender
Male	152(63.3)	88(36.7)	0.848
Female	71(62.3)	43(37.7)
Age (years)
24–34	135(61.1)	86(38.9)	0.338
35–44	88(66.2)	45(33.8)
Nationality
Saudi	199(61.8)	123(38.2)	0.140
Non-Saudi	24(75)	08(25)

Table 6 Influence of Respondents’ Characteristics on Their Sitting Behavior

Participants Characteristics	Mean Sitting Score			p- value
	Mean (SD)	F Value	t-Value*
Gender
Male	6.62(1.66)	----	−0.611	0.047
Female	6.73(1.46)
Age (full years)
24–34	6.67(1.525)	----	0.142	0.078*
35–44	6.65(1.651)
Nationality
Saudi	6.67(1.649)	-----	0.363	<0.001
Non-Saudi	6.56(1.105)
Education
Secondary or equivalent	6.70(1.691)
University	6.54(1.615)	3.063		0.028**
Master’s degree	7.38(1.102)		------
Doctorate	6.36(1.689)
Marital status
Married	6.76(1.556)	-----	−1.102	0.418
Unmarried	6.57(1.645)
Employment status
Employed	6.84(1.496)		---
Unemployed	6.61(1.677)	1.857		0.137**
Student	6.80(1.549)
Housewife	6.27(1.673)
Monthly household income over the last 12 months
>7000 Saudi Riyals	6.54(1.657)	3.172	----
8000–10, 000 Saudi Riyals	6.28(1.707)			0.024**
11–20, 000 Saudi Riyals	6.94(1.346)
<21, 000 Saudi Riyals	7.08(1.463)

Note: *Independent sample t-test. **ANOVA.