The effects of the first wave of COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity: a longitudinal study from "step into health" program in Qatar.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions that prevented physical activity in public places. This study sought to conduct a comprehensive longitudinal analysis of how lockdown policies in an Arabian Gulf country influenced the patterns of physical activity during first wave.

Methods: In a longitudinal study design, members of the ongoing "Step into health" community-based health promotion program who provided valid pedometer data from January to August 2020, covering pre, during and post-covid first wave period met the inclusion criteria.

Results from the Lebanese 2022 report card on physical activity for children and youth.

Objective: The Lebanese Active Healthy Kids Work Group (LAHKWG) synthesized literature published on physical activity (PA) indicators among ages 5- to 17- year-olds, using a recommended harmonized process by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA), to explore Lebanon's performance since its previous report card publication.

Methods: Peer reviewed literature, national surveys, and gray literature published since 2017, on 10 common AHKGA and two LAHKWG recommended indicators were examined. Common indicators included overall PA, organized sport and PA, active play, active transportation, community and environment, sedentary behaviors, physical fitness, family and peers, school, and government.

Adherence and retention to the self-managed community-based Step Into Health program in Qatar (2012-2019).

Purpose: Investigate adherence and retention to the "Step Into Health (SIH)" initiative (www.stepintohealth.qa [website access only available from within the State of Qatar]), a Qatari self-managed community-based health program, from 2012 to 2019.

Ramadan daily intermittent fasting reduces objectively assessed habitual physical activity among adults.

Background: Muslims around the world practice intermittent fasting during the month of Ramadan each year. We hypothesized that daily physical activity could be reduced among Muslims due to the inability to refuel and rehydrate in the fasting state.

Methods: A cohort study design among adults registered with national physical activity community program.

Effect of a pedometer-based walking challenge on increasing physical activity levels amongst hospital workers.

Background: More than 50% of Qatari adults are physically inactive. The workplace is an excellent environment to implement cost-effective, efficient behavioural physical activity (PA) interventions to increase PA. This study evaluated whether a pedometer-based walking challenge would increase PA levels amongst hospital workers.

Sitting Time and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Context: Whether physical activity attenuates the association of total daily sitting time with cardiovascular disease and diabetes incidence is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association of total daily sitting time with cardiovascular disease and diabetes with and without adjustment for physical activity.

Evidence Acquisition: PubMed, Web of Science, BASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Elite, and ScienceDirect were searched for prospective studies, published between January 1, 1989, and February 15, 2019, examining the association of total daily sitting time with cardiovascular disease or diabetes outcomes.

Breaking up prolonged sitting with moderate-intensity walking improves attention and executive function in Qatari females.

Background: Cultural, environmental and logistical factors promote a sedentary lifestyle within Qatar, particularly for females. Sedentary behaviour is acutely associated with poor cognitive function and fatigue, and chronically may be implicated with cognitive decline (i.e.

Postprandial Insulin and Triglyceride Concentrations Are Suppressed in Response to Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting in Qatari Females.

Cultural, environmental and logistical factors challenge the Qatari population, particularly females, to engage in physical activity, and there is a high prevalence of diabetes in this population. Sedentary behavior is associated with increased cardiometabolic disease risk and early mortality and breaking up sitting can attenuate postprandial cardiometabolic risk markers. However, no studies have evaluated the cardiometabolic response to breaking up sitting in a Qatari population.

Effectiveness of "Step into Health" program in Qatar: a pedometer-based longitudinal study.

Background: This study examines the impact of a one-year pedometer-based intervention on increasing the physical activity level among adult population in Qatar.

Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted over a one-year period and included a total of 268 adults aged between 18-64 years old. Data were extracted and used from the "Step into Health" (SIH) program, a community-based program launched in 2012, as an approach to improve physical activity in Qatar.

One-year assessment of physical activity level in adult Qatari females: a pedometer-based longitudinal study.

Background: Physical inactivity is a growing health concern and has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. The Arab region includes countries with some of the world's highest physical inactivity levels, such as Qatar, more specifically the Qatari female population.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the physical activity levels of Qatari national female adults during a 1-year pedometer-based program.

Change in the structures, dynamics and disease-related mortality rates of the population of Qatari nationals: 2007-2011.

Background: Developing effective public health policies and strategies for interventions necessitates an assessment of the structure, dynamics, disease rates and causes of death in a population. Lately, Qatar has undertaken development resurgence in health and economy that resulted in improving the standard of health services and health status of the entire Qatari population (i.e.

Relationship between insulin resistance and plasma vitamin D in adults.

A recent relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance has been established through several studies. Research suggests a correlation between serum vitamin D and glycemic status measures. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the plasma vitamin D levels (25[OH]D) and the factors linked to insulin resistance in a representative sample of Canadians ranging in age from 16-79 years.