Correlation between breast cancer and lifestyle within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: A systematic review

Table 2 Results from papers looking at the prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Ref.	Sample size and characteristics	Participant age range (mean ± SD)	Exposure measures	Anthropometric measurements	Physical activity	Key findings	Other findings
[36]	105 female volunteers recruited from Riyadh city, KSA	18-45 yr (26.3 ± 7.1)	Pedometer used to measure daily steps; Weight and height measured accurately in the clinic	Mean BMI (± SD): 25 (± 4.2)	Mean steps (± SD) - 5114 (± 2213). Classified as “low-active”	There was no significant correlation between step count and any participant demographics	Step count had a strong correlation with self-efficacy
[32]	277 healthy adult Omani women from 5/11 governates in Oman	18-48 yr, IPAQ (n = 229) - 29.6 ± 7.3; D-SSTQ (n = 191) – 31 ± 7.1; Accelerometer (n = 80) – 29 ± 8.0	2 questionnaires and use of accelerometer to measure PA; IPAQ (n = 229); D-SSTQ (n = 191); Accelerometer (n = 80), weight and height measured accurately	IPAQ (n = 229) - Mean (± SD): 25.9 (± 6.3); 52.8% overweight/obese; D-SSTQ (n = 191) -Mean (± SD): 26.7 (± 5.9); 58.6% overweight/obese; Accelerometer (n = 80) - Mean (± SD): 25.1 (± 6.1)	IPAQ (n = 229) - 34% minimally active, 32% moderately active, 34% physically active; D-SSTQ (n = 191) - Mean self-reported sitting; 450 min on working day and 448 min on non-working day. Accelerometer (n = 80) - Mean time wearing was 813.7 ± 101.6 min/d. Time spent in sedentary behaviour was 62%, 35% in light PA and 3% in moderate-vigorous PA	From the IPAQ: a median ± IQR of 75 ± 249 min/wk spent in moderate PA, 0 ± 80 min/wk in vigorous PA and 120 ± 330 min/wk walking. Adults spent significantly (P ≤ 0.05) more time in moderate PA than the younger participants; There was no significance between PA levels and BMI. For the D-SSTQ: adults spent significantly (P < 0.001) more time watching television then the young adults. Generally, women 30-48 yr were more PA then younger adults	There was a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.0001) in the amount of PA in participants that had degree level education. Unemployed participated in more vigorous PA than employed (P ≤ 0.001). Postgraduate degree holders reported significantly more sitting time (P ≤ 0.001). There was no significant correlation between BMI and sitting time
[38]	600 healthy Saudi females from Riyadh KSA	16-45 yr (26.1 ± 7.7)	Weight and height measured by standard techniques	Mean BMI (± SD): 25.7 (± 5.6); 52.63% had a BMI > 24.9 (range was 14.7-50.3)	N/A	Majority of the participants were either overweight or obese	Married women had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight and obesity There is a statistically significant (P < 0.001) correlation between BMI and age. BMI increased with age and morbid obesity was greatest in the 36-45-year-old age group. There was no significant correlation in BMI between students and housewives
[33]	237 female staff and students from Hail University, KSA	18-30 yr (NB: 96% < 30)	The short version of the IPAQ for PA; Weight and height accurately measured	42% overweight or obese	57%- Inactive 41%- Moderate 2%- Physically active (health-enhancing PA level)	A high percentage of females were inactive	A significant correlation between increasing age and BMI and body fat (P < 0.0001); There was an inverse correlation between the intake of dietary fibre and BMI (P = 0.047)

BMI > 24.9 is overweight and BMI-30 is obese. BMI: Body mass index; PA: Physical activity; WC: Waist circumference; SD: Standard deviation; IQR: Interquartile range; IPAQ: International physical activity questionnaire; D-SSTQ: Domain-specific sitting time questionnaire; KSA: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.