RESUMEN
Objectives: Sedentary behaviors [too much sitting as distinct from too little exercise] are associated with increased risk of non-communicable diseases. Identifying the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of sitting time can inform public health policy and prevention strategies
Methods: A population-based national survey was carried out among Omani adults in 2008 [n = 2 977] using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, which included a measure of total sitting time. Bivariate and regression analyses examined the associations of total sitting time with sociodemographic correlates [gender, age, education, work status, marital status, place of residence, and wealth]
Results: The proportion who sat for >/= 7 hours/day was significantly higher in older than in younger adults [men: 22.0% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.010; women: 26.9% vs. 15.2%, p < 0.001, respectively]. The odds ratio [OR] for prolonged sitting was half for men who were not working compared to those who were [p < 0.050]. For younger women, the OR for sitting >/= 7 hours/day was nearly a third for educated women compared to least educated [p = 0.035]. For older women, the OR for prolonged sitting was more than double for married women compared to unmarried [p < 0.001]
Conclusions: One in five Omani adults was identified as sitting for prolonged periods, at levels understood to have deleterious health consequences. Higher-risk groups include older adults and working men. With sitting time identified as a key behavioral risk to be targeted for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, further research is needed to understand the factors associated with domain-specific sitting time in order to guide prevention programs and broader public health approaches