Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Physical Activity in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Overview.

ABSTRACT: Increasing physical inactivity levels in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a public health concern. We aimed to synthesize barriers and facilitators to physical activity and make appropriate recommendations to address physical inactivity. We conducted an overview of systematic reviews on physical activity barriers and facilitators in 20 MENA countries by systematically searching MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar for systematic reviews published between 2008 and 2020. Our overview included four systematic reviews and 119 primary studies with data from 17 MENA countries. Lack of suitable sports facilities, time, social support and motivation, gender and cultural norms, harsh weather, and hot climate were the most commonly reported barriers to physical activity. Socio-demograp

SUBMITTER: Chaabane S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7914747 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature