Aral Sea environmental disasters area population's physical activity level assessment - the first step for targeted...

Aim: We aimed to assess the physical activity and sedentary behavior of the population living in the Aral Sea area using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Materials: Data was collected from seven out-patient settings involving 445 participants (47.6% females, 52.4% males). The age of 33.6% of respondents was over 65.

Results: Nearly a quarter (23.5%) of the participants did not meet World Health Organization physical activity recommendations. The Median Time spent on physical activity in recreation in all dispensaries among males (Md=34.29, IQR=66.43) was signif i cantly higher (Z=-4.78, p<0.001) than females (Md=12.86, IQR=51.43). A signif i cant association was observed between transport-related physical activity and gender (χ2= 5.60, p=0.018). The average percentage that comes from recreation-related activities among males (M=43.69, SD=26.90) was more signif i cant (MD=6.27, 95% CI: 0.46, 12.07) as compared to that of females (M=37.43, SD=31.66). A signif i cant association was observed between engagement in vigorous activity and gender (χ2= 30.77, p<0.001).

Conclusions: Environmental, economic, demographic, and cultural peculiarities of the Aral Sea area should be considered in elaborating specif i c health promotion programs to shift health-harming ambient into health-improving environment.