Lifestyles of adult Omani women cross-sectional study on physical activity and sedentary behavior

This study aimed to investigate the lifestyles of adult Omani women with regards to physical activity [PA] levels and sedentary behaviour [SB]. The study was carried out between May and June 2013 and included a total of 277 healthy women aged 18-48 years from five governorates in Oman. Total, moderate and vigorous PA levels and walking were self-reported by participants using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. SB [total sitting time and different types of sitting time] was self-reported using the Domain Specific Sitting Time Questionnaire on both working and non-working days. PA levels and SB were also objectively measured among 86 of the participants using an accelerometer. The self-reported median +/ interquartile range [IQR] total PA was 1,516 +/- 3,392 metabolic equivalent of task minutes/week. The self-reported median +/- IQR total sitting time was 433 +/- 323 minutes/day and 470 +/- 423 minutes/day for working and non-working days, respectively. Sitting at work on working days and sitting during leisure activities on non-working days formed the greatest proportion of total sitting time. Overall, accelerometer results indicated that participants spent 62% of their time involved in SB, 35% in light PA and only 3% in moderate to vigorous PA. Sedentary lifestyles were common among the adult Omani women studied. Lack of PA and increased SB is known to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and obesity. The use of accelerometers to monitor PA and SB among different groups in Oman is highly recommended in order to accurately assess the lifestyle risks of this population

Lifestyle habits: diet, physical activity and sleep duration among Omani adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle habits-physical activity [PA], eating habits [EH], and sleep duration [SD]-of Omani adolescents, and to examine gender differences in such variables. 802 Omani adolescents [442 females and 360 males], aged 15-18 years were randomly recruited. Anthropometric indices, PA level, and EH and SD were evaluated by the Arab Teenage Lifestyle questionnaire. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessment was also administered. The results showed that although the study subjects had a sedentary lifestyle [lack of PA, average of 6.7 hours sleep, and consumption of high calorie foods], they maintained a normal body mass [less than 25 Kg/m2]. Males were more than twice as active as females. With respect to EH, there were few gender differences, except in dairy and meat consumption where 62.5% and 55.5% of males consumed more than 3 servings, respectively, compared to 18.78% and 35.2% of females, respectively. In addition, waist/height ratio, height, reasons for being active, energy drinks, potato consumption, eating sweets, vigorous PA and breakfast EHs were statistically significant independent predictors for BMI, P <0.05 for both males and females. This study revealed a high prevalence of sedentary behaviors and a low level of physical activity, especially among females. Unhealthy dietary habits were also widely found among both genders. There is an urgent need for more research as well as a national policy promoting active living and healthy eating and discouraging sedentary behaviour among Omani adolescents

Optimum anthropometric criteria for ideal body composition related fitness

The three aims of this study were to establish equations for ideal body composition related fitness to be used by adults willing to gain optimum body composition related fitness; to predict the possible symmetrical major muscle circumference, and to compute the ideal body fat percentage [BFP] with ideal body weight [IBW] based on the body mass index [BMI]. Twenty-four athletes were intentionally selected, with heights of 166-190 cm and aged 20-42 years, according to a judging committee that used modified International Fitness Federation criteria for the Mr. Fitness competition "super body category". Common anthropometric and body composition measurements were taken for the following independent variables: body height, upper limb length, lower limb length, thigh length, arm length, shoulder width, forearm length, shank length, and wrist girth; and for the following dependent variables: circumferences of shoulder, thigh, waist, hip, chest, biceps, forearm, shank, and neck. Skin fold thickness was measured at three sites by a Harpenden caliper to calculate BFP. The findings indicate that there was a predictive correlation between major independent variables and body circumferences. The mean range used to find out the ideal BFP percentage which was 5.6 +/- 6.7%. The BMI equation used to find the IBW was H2 23.77 +/- 2 SE. Stepwise multiple regressions were also used to derive predictive equations. The most predictive independent variables were wrist girth and height. It is suggested that the above equations, the ideal BFP percentage and the IBW be used as criteria in training sessions to achieve ideal body composition related fitness