Barriers to a healthy lifestyle among patients attending primary care clinics at a university hospital in Riyadh

Abstract

Background and objectives: The occurrence and progress of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is associated with unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors. Modification of barriers to healthy lifestyle can produce great benefits. The objective of this study was to identify barriers to physical activity and healthy eating among patients attending primary health care clinics in Riyadh city. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh city. Four hundred and fifty participants attending primary health care clinics (PHCC) from 1 March to 30 April 2007 were randomly selected. A questionnaire about barriers to physical activity and healthy eating was adapted from the CDC web site. Results: The prevalence of physical inactivity among the Saudi population in the study was 82. 4% (371/450). Females were more physically inactive (87.6%, 268/306) compared to males (71.5%, 103/144) (P