Physical activity levels among college students in Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sports Science
• Higher Education

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) is crucial for college students' health.
• Saudi Arabia faces challenges in promoting PA among its university population.
• Understanding PA levels, barriers, and facilitators is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review Saudi college students' physical activity levels.
• To identify barriers and facilitators influencing physical activity engagement.
• To determine the proportion of students meeting WHO physical activity recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus.
• 44 studies involving 29,580 Saudi college students were included.
• Data on PA levels, barriers, facilitators, and guideline adherence were extracted and synthesized.

Main Results:

• Only 27% of Saudi college students meet WHO PA recommendations.
• Common barriers include lack of time, motivation, and facilities.
• Facilitators include perceived health benefits, social support, and weight management goals.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity levels among Saudi university students are alarmingly low.
• Addressing barriers like time constraints and limited resources is essential.
• Culturally tailored interventions and improved infrastructure are recommended to boost PA.