In the Arab region, alarming predictions have been made in light of very unfavorable combinations of risk factors related to body mass index, its determinants including physical activity, and its health consequences. There are major variations in the prevalence of physical inactivity across regions and among countries. Analyses of the Global Burden of Disease estimate that insufficient physical activity accounts for an estimated 13.4 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) related to ischemic heart disease, diabetes and stroke. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks physical inactivity as the fourth leading cause of global mortality, estimating that it results in 3.2 million deaths globally, mainly due to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and some cancers. The evidence on the magnitude of these changes and their consequences for health is well recognized. Global increases in body mass index, raised blood pressure and cardiovascular disease have been attributed in part to the reduction in physical activity resulting from changes in the organization of labor and transportation, and to increases in sedentary behavior. Studies using harmonized approaches, rigorous analytic techniques and a deeper examination of context are needed to design appropriate interventions. Physical inactivity among Arab adults and children/adolescents is high. We draw on social science studies to gain insights into why this is so. Some determinants of physical inactivity in the region (age, gender, low education) are shared with other regions, but specific aspects of the cultural context of the region seem particularly discouraging of physical activity. Prevalence of inactivity among adults and children/adolescents is high across countries, and is higher among women. Standardized data are available from surveys by the World Health Organization for almost all countries, but journal articles show great variability in definitions, measurements and methodology. We found 172 articles meeting inclusion criteria. We also included national survey reports on physical activity, and searched for analyses of the social context of physical activity. We searched MEDLINE, Popline, and SSCI for articles published between 20, assessing the prevalence of physical inactivity and its social determinants. We synthesize the evidence on physical inactivity and its social determinants in Arab countries, with special attention to gender and cultural context. Physical inactivity is associated with excess weight and adverse health outcomes.
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