Inactivity and Sitting Time in Later Life: A Saudi National Profile and Policy Implications for Vision 2030

Background and Objectives: Saudi Arabia's aging population faces significant challenges from physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behavior. This study quantified the prevalence of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior among older adults (aged 65 years and above) compared with those aged 55-64 years. Materials and Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 2013 Saudi Health Interview Survey. The analysis focused on adults aged 55-64 years and those aged 65 years and older, stratified by sex. Physical inactivity was defined as <150 min of moderate-to-vigorous activity per week, and sedentary behavior as ≥6 h per day sitting or screen time. Results: Among adults ≥65 years (n = 875; 517 men, 358 women), 70.6% of women (95% CI 63.4-77.8) and 37.9% of men (95% CI 32.3-43.5) were inactive (difference: 32.7 percentage points). 42.7% of women (95% CI, 34.7-50.7%) and 32.0% of men (95% CI, 26.3-37.7%) reported ≥6 h of daily sitting. From ages 55-64 to ≥65, inactivity increased by 16.4 percentage points in women and 10.7 percentage points in men, while sitting increased by 9.5 percentage points and 8.5 pp, respectively. Conclusions: Older Saudi adults, especially women, face significant challenges related to physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, particularly after age 65. Addressing these issues through gender-responsive policies and interventions is vital for promoting health as part of Saudi Vision 2030.