The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries

The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group

doi:10.3390/ijerph191710832

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries

The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group

Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Campus
Al-Quds University
Istinye University
Applied Science Private University
University of Oxford
Lebanese University
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
College of Health Sciences, Qatar University
University of Jordan
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)
Taibah University
National Research Center
The Public Authority of Applied Education and Training
University of Bahrain
American University of Madaba
Sultan Qaboos University
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
Qatar University
University of Antwerp
Tilburg University
KU Leuven
Ghent University
Al-Balqa Applied University
University of Mutah
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Holy Spirit University of Kaslik
Hamad Medical Corporation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries. The Eastern Mediterranean regional data related to the 10 Arabic countries that participated in the survey were selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12,433 participants were included in this analysis. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 (SD, 11.7) years. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between physical activity levels and the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, watching TV, screen time, and computer usage. Physical activity levels decreased significantly during the lockdown. Participants’ country of origin, gender, and education were associated with physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Older age, watching TV, and using computers had a negative effect on physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Strategies to improve physical activity and minimize sedentary behavior should be implemented, as well as to reduce unhealthy levels of inactive time, especially during times of crisis. Further research on the influence of a lack of physical activity on overall health status, as well as on the COVID-19 disease effect is recommended.

Original language	English
Article number	10832
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	19
Issue number	17
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710832
State	Published - Sep 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

COVID-19
adults
coronavirus
lockdown
pandemic
physical activity
quarantine

Access to Document

10.3390/ijerph191710832

Cite this

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title = "The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries",

abstract = "Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries. The Eastern Mediterranean regional data related to the 10 Arabic countries that participated in the survey were selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12,433 participants were included in this analysis. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 (SD, 11.7) years. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between physical activity levels and the participants{\textquoteright} sociodemographic characteristics, watching TV, screen time, and computer usage. Physical activity levels decreased significantly during the lockdown. Participants{\textquoteright} country of origin, gender, and education were associated with physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Older age, watching TV, and using computers had a negative effect on physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Strategies to improve physical activity and minimize sedentary behavior should be implemented, as well as to reduce unhealthy levels of inactive time, especially during times of crisis. Further research on the influence of a lack of physical activity on overall health status, as well as on the COVID-19 disease effect is recommended.",

keywords = "COVID-19, adults, coronavirus, lockdown, pandemic, physical activity, quarantine",

author = "\{The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group\} and \{Al Sabbah\}, Haleama and Zainab Taha and Radwan Qasrawi and Assaf, \{Enas A.\} and Ismail, \{Leila Cheikh\} and \{Al Dhaheri\}, \{Ayesha S.\} and Maha Hoteit and Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh and Reema Tayyem and Hiba Bawadi and Majid Alkhalaf and Khlood Bookari and Iman Kamel and Somaia Dashti and Sabika Allehdan and Alalwan, \{Tariq A.\} and Fadwa Hammouh and Waly, \{Mostafa I.\} and Al-Halawa, \{Diala Abu\} and Rania Mansour and Farha, \{Allam Abu\} and \{De Backer\}, Charlotte and \{Van Royen\}, Kathleen and Lauranna Teunissen and Isabelle Cuykx and Paulien Decorte and Ga{\"e}lle Ouvrein and Karolien Poels and Heidi Vandebosch and Katrien Maldoy and Sara Pabian and Christophe Matthys and Tim Smits and Jules Vrinten and Ann DeSmet and Nelleke Teughels and Maggie Geuens and Iris Vermeir and Viktor Proesmans and Liselot Hudders and Nahla Al-Bayyari and Ibrahim, \{Mohammed O.\} and Basma Dashti and Dhuha Alkharaif and Amani Alshatti and \{Al Mazedi\}, Maryam and Elissa Naim and Hussein Mortada and Carla Ibrahim and Sharifa AlBlooshi",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 by the authors.",

year = "2022",

month = sep,

doi = "10.3390/ijerph191710832",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

journal = "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health",

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T1 - The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries

AU - The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group

AU - Al Sabbah, Haleama

AU - Taha, Zainab

AU - Qasrawi, Radwan

AU - Assaf, Enas A.

AU - Ismail, Leila Cheikh

AU - Al Dhaheri, Ayesha S.

AU - Hoteit, Maha

AU - Al-Jawaldeh, Ayoub

AU - Tayyem, Reema

AU - Bawadi, Hiba

AU - Alkhalaf, Majid

AU - Bookari, Khlood

AU - Kamel, Iman

AU - Dashti, Somaia

AU - Allehdan, Sabika

AU - Alalwan, Tariq A.

AU - Hammouh, Fadwa

AU - Waly, Mostafa I.

AU - Al-Halawa, Diala Abu

AU - Mansour, Rania

AU - Farha, Allam Abu

AU - De Backer, Charlotte

AU - Van Royen, Kathleen

AU - Teunissen, Lauranna

AU - Cuykx, Isabelle

AU - Decorte, Paulien

AU - Ouvrein, Gaëlle

AU - Poels, Karolien

AU - Vandebosch, Heidi

AU - Maldoy, Katrien

AU - Pabian, Sara

AU - Matthys, Christophe

AU - Smits, Tim

AU - Vrinten, Jules

AU - DeSmet, Ann

AU - Teughels, Nelleke

AU - Geuens, Maggie

AU - Vermeir, Iris

AU - Proesmans, Viktor

AU - Hudders, Liselot

AU - Al-Bayyari, Nahla

AU - Ibrahim, Mohammed O.

AU - Dashti, Basma

AU - Alkharaif, Dhuha

AU - Alshatti, Amani

AU - Al Mazedi, Maryam

AU - Naim, Elissa

AU - Mortada, Hussein

AU - Ibrahim, Carla

AU - AlBlooshi, Sharifa

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries. The Eastern Mediterranean regional data related to the 10 Arabic countries that participated in the survey were selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12,433 participants were included in this analysis. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 (SD, 11.7) years. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between physical activity levels and the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, watching TV, screen time, and computer usage. Physical activity levels decreased significantly during the lockdown. Participants’ country of origin, gender, and education were associated with physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Older age, watching TV, and using computers had a negative effect on physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Strategies to improve physical activity and minimize sedentary behavior should be implemented, as well as to reduce unhealthy levels of inactive time, especially during times of crisis. Further research on the influence of a lack of physical activity on overall health status, as well as on the COVID-19 disease effect is recommended.

AB - Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries. The Eastern Mediterranean regional data related to the 10 Arabic countries that participated in the survey were selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12,433 participants were included in this analysis. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 (SD, 11.7) years. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between physical activity levels and the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, watching TV, screen time, and computer usage. Physical activity levels decreased significantly during the lockdown. Participants’ country of origin, gender, and education were associated with physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Older age, watching TV, and using computers had a negative effect on physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Strategies to improve physical activity and minimize sedentary behavior should be implemented, as well as to reduce unhealthy levels of inactive time, especially during times of crisis. Further research on the influence of a lack of physical activity on overall health status, as well as on the COVID-19 disease effect is recommended.

KW - COVID-19

KW - adults

KW - coronavirus

KW - lockdown

KW - pandemic

KW - physical activity

KW - quarantine

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85137585825

U2 - 10.3390/ijerph191710832

DO - 10.3390/ijerph191710832

M3 - Article

C2 - 36078548

AN - SCOPUS:85137585825

SN - 1661-7827

VL - 19

JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

IS - 17

M1 - 10832

ER -

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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