English abstract
The Eastern Mediterranean is the second most inactive region globally and has the highest levels of inactivity among women.1 In addition, few countries in the region have national policies on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and/or physical activity. In Oman, a country in the Arabian Gulf, the prevalence of insufficient physical activity is particularly high, especially in women and girls (men = 29.6%, women = 48.5%, adolescent boys = 84.6%, girls = 91.7%).2,3
Demographic and epidemiological changes brought on by modernization, economic development, and shifts in traditional lifestyles and occupational patterns have contributed to the low prevalence of physical activity.4,5 The rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and increased susceptibility of the population to these conditions, demands accelerated multisectoral action to promote physical activity.
