Volume 26, Issue 122, April 2022

Awareness of the importance of physical activity among pediatric age group in Saudi Arabia

Rheem Abdulla Almhizai¹, Naif Ibrahim Almuhanna², Ali Saad Alqahtani², Naif Abdullah Alomar², Musaab Mohamed Al Aradi², Faisal Ibrahim Alsukairan²

¹Department of pediatrics, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O Box 7544, Riyadh 13317-4233, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
²College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, 13317, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess physical activity levels (PA), knowledge, and awareness of the importance of PA among pediatric age group in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Introduction: Physical activity plays an important role in protection against many diseases in pediatric age group, which their etiology is associated with inactivity and having sedentary lifestyle. Among the most crucial issues associated with inactivity is Obesity. Childhood Obesity is associated with a multitude of disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome and it is well known that physical exertion is thought to be beneficial as a protective measure against chronic diseases that are affecting the pediatric age group. Objectives: measuring children’s awareness of the benefits of physical activity. To decide the relationship between children’s awareness regarding the benefit of physical exertion and their background variables. To determine the association between children’s awareness regarding the benefit of PA and the amount of PA they perform. Methods: A cross-section study was conducted during the period from March to May among children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, targeting pediatric age group using an online form.

Keywords: awareness, Physical activity, children

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms117e2077

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i122/ms117e2077

Published: 03 April 2022