The prevalence of physical activity among the young population of UAE: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Lack of physical activities is a key disease factor and constitutes a serious public health issue in the Middle East region. Reports from this geographical area converge in concluding that the resident populations do not get enough exercise to keep themselves healthy. The objective of this systematic review is to obtain accurate data on the prevalence of physical activity (PA) and levels of PA among the young residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).


METHODS
Five prospective studies met the inclusion criteria with 12,988 subjects (including 12,782 adolescents).


RESULTS
Meta-analytical results showed that (1) almost a quarter of the young population have a total sedentary lifestyle with no PA, (2) less than half have been mildly involved in physical activities, (3) around a fifth practised a moderate level of PA, and (4) a quarter were involved in a vigorous PA. Additionally, mild PA was more common in female adolescents, whereas moderate and high PA were significantly higher in male adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Such alarming rates of exercise involvement among the young UAE residents should stimulate policymakers and college/university administrations to plan and promote PA in order to reduce future levels of chronic diseases.
Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Anatomy, Sport & Orthopedic Research, Emirates Hospital, Dubai, UAE.
Kaissar
K
Yammine
D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D014479:United Arab Emirates
epidemiology; meta-analysis; physical activity; public health