Low levels of physical activity in Sudanese individuals with some features of metabolic syndrome: Population based study

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of physical activity among Sudanese population. Methods A descriptive cross sectional study composed of 323 participants from Khartoum state, Sudan. Data collected using pretested designed questionnaire based on previously validated Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. The demographic and physical measurement including blood glucose, anthropometric and blood pressure. Results The Mean age of participants was 35.5. Males were 59.9% and females 47.1% and the prevalence of inactivity was 53.8%. Despite the fact that males are more active than females (P < 0.000) physical activity tends to decrease with age but this not statistically significant. Physical activity is significantly decreased with obesity, higher education and doing sedentary jobs (P < 0.018, P < 0.000 and P < 0.000 respectively). While majority of individuals with hypertension and pre-hypertension tend to do less physical activity (P < 0.045 and P < 0.008 respectively). Logistic regression analysis shown that gender is absolute risk factor for physical activity. Males have more than three times probability of being physically active than women OR3.82 (1.91–7.30). In this study, physical activity was not affected by central obesity (P < 0.497), diabetes (P < 0.378) and being married or not (P < 0.135). Conclusion Physical activity in Sudanese women was significantly decreased in comparison with men.