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. 2022 Jul 5;14(7):e26586.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.26586. eCollection 2022 Jul.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ahmed M Hamed  1 , Haroon A Javaid  1 , Safwan Abbasi  1 , Ahsan Amanullah  1 , Majed Ramadan  2 , Ismail M Shakir  3 , Noara AlHusseini  1
Affiliations

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ahmed M Hamed et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background Physical inactivity has been identified as a major factor in developing and progressing chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranks high worldwide in rates of obesity. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, public health measures have been enforced. These included social distancing, masking, reduction of workplace daily hours, prevention of social gatherings, and home quarantine measures. These ultimately restricted the ability to perform regular physical health activities. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity among adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among the Saudi population. An online survey was sent through social media to gather data regarding individual physical activity before and after the start of the COVID-19 restrictions. The data were collected from March 20, 2021, until May 20, 2021, and analyzed using chi-square and paired t-test using the SAS software version 9.4. Results In total, 433 participants completed the survey. There were 183 (42.3%) males, and the majority of the participants were Saudi nationals (284, 65.6%). Most of the participants (181, 41.8%) were in the age group 25-35 years and 253 (58%) had bachelor's degrees. Although the results did not show a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-COVID-19 respondents in terms of physical activity, married participants, participants from the eastern province, and participants who did not exercise regularly were all significantly impacted by lack of exercise compared to their counterparts (p < 0.05). Conclusions Taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is essential. Nonetheless, recommendations should be sought for physical activity during lockdowns, and large-scale research should be conducted to better understand what causes the exaggeration of sedentary lifestyles during lockdowns and how to prevent them. Further studies need to be conducted, and national guidelines should be made available in case of a future lockdown.

Keywords: adults; covid-19; cross-sectional study; kingdom of saudi arabia (ksa); physical activity; saudi arabia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Bar chart showing the employment status before COVID‎-19.
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019
Figure 2
Figure 2. Bar chart showing the employment status during COVID-19.
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019
Figure 3
Figure 3. Bar chart illustrating the percentage of individuals in each group of activity before COVID-19 and during ‎COVID-19‎.
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019
Figure 4
Figure 4. Flowchart showing the impact of COVID-19 on each group of leisure time activity.
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019
Figure 5
Figure 5. Pie chart depicting locations of exercise before COVID-19.
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019
Figure 6
Figure 6. Pie chart depicting locations of exercise during COVID-19.
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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