Barriers to a healthy lifestyle among patients attending primary care clinics at a university hospital in Riyadh.
OBJECTIVE
The occurrence and progress of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is associated with unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors. Modification of barriers to healthy lifestyle can produce great benefits. The objective of this study was to identify barriers to physical activity and healthy eating among patients attending primary health care clinics in Riyadh city.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh city. Four hundred and fifty participants attending primary health care clinics (PHCC) from 1 March to 30 April 2007 were randomly selected. A questionnaire about barriers to physical activity and healthy eating was adapted from the CDC web site.


RESULTS
The prevalence of physical inactivity among the Saudi population in the study was 82.4% (371/450). Females were more physically inactive (87.6%, 268/306) compared to males (71.5%, 103/144) (P<.001). The most common barrier to physical activity was lack of resources (80.5%, 326/405), which was significantly higher among females than males and among the lower income versus the higher income group. The most common barrier to healthy diet was lack of willpower. More than four-fifths (80.3%, 354/441) of the study group stated that they did not have enough will to stick to a diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of resources was the most important barrier for physical activity, while lack of willpower and social support were both barriers for adherence to physical activity and a healthy diet.
AlQuaiz
Aljoharah M
AM
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. jalquaiz@yahoo.com
Tayel
Salwa A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult