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

Haleama Al Sabbah (), Zainab Taha, Radwan Qasrawi, Enas A. Assaf, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri, Maha Hoteit, Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, Reema Tayyem, Hiba Bawadi, Majid AlKhalaf, Khlood Bookari, Iman Kamel, Somaia Dashti, Sabika Allehdan, Tariq A. Alalwan, Fadwa Hammouh, Mostafa I. Waly, Diala Abu Al-Halawa, Rania Mansour, Allam Abu Farha and The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group
Additional contact information
Haleama Al Sabbah: Department of Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai P.O. Box 19282, United Arab Emirates
Zainab Taha: Department of Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 144534, United Arab Emirates
Radwan Qasrawi: Department of Computer Science, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 20002, Palestine
Enas A. Assaf: Faculty of Nursing, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan
Leila Cheikh Ismail: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri: Department of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
Maha Hoteit: Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh: World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo 11884, Egypt
Reema Tayyem: Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Hiba Bawadi: Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Majid AlKhalaf: National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Khlood Bookari: National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Iman Kamel: National Research Centre, Cairo 11884, Egypt
Somaia Dashti: Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait City 13092, Kuwait
Sabika Allehdan: Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain
Tariq A. Alalwan: Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain
Fadwa Hammouh: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Madaba, Amman 11821, Jordan
Mostafa I. Waly: Food Science and Nutrition Department, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman
Diala Abu Al-Halawa: Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem 20002, Palestine
Rania Mansour: Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Doha P.O. Box 200592, Qatar
Allam Abu Farha: College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group: Membership are listed in Acknowledgments.

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-15

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; pandemic; physical activity; quarantine; lockdown; adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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