Physical activity patterns and environmental influences: Findings from the Kuwait diabetes epidemiology program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a significant risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases.
• This study investigates physical activity patterns in Kuwaiti adults, considering environmental and demographic factors.
• Understanding spatial PA clustering and its determinants is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the spatial distribution of physical activity in Kuwait.
• To examine the relationship between physical activity, climate, and built environmental indicators.
• To identify ethnic group differences in physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cross-sectional study involving 2530 adults in Kuwait (2011-2014).
• Physical activity assessed using the World Health Organisation Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ).
• Built environmental indicators and climatic variables analyzed alongside physical activity data using random effects logit analysis.

Main Results:

• 51.9% of Kuwaiti adults did not meet the recommended minimum physical activity level (600 MET-min/week).
• Insufficient physical activity was more prevalent in women compared to men.
• Associations found between physical activity and average temperature, sports ground availability, and road density; lower odds of PA linked to marriage and female gender; higher odds for South/Southeast Asians versus Arabs.

Conclusions:

• Approximately half of Kuwait's adult population is insufficiently physically active.
• Interventions should address gender and ethnic disparities in physical activity.
• Local environmental factors and marital status are important considerations for promoting physical activity in Kuwait.