Level of adherence to physical activity recommendations among adults with type 2 diabetes in Qatar and associated factors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) has beneficial health effects in controlling and managing diabetes. Identifying key factors associated with poor adherence to PA recommendations among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has significant implications for future targeted interventions aimed at improving adherence and health outcomes in this population. The present study aims to determine the level of adherence to PA recommendations and the associated factors among adults with T2D in Qatar. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which secondary data collected from the Qatar Biobank were used. This was a population-based study including Qatari nationals and long-term residents. The amount of time spent performing moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic PA per week was self-reported. Adherence to PA recommendations was defined according to the WHO guidelines for adults and older adults (aged 18 years and older) with chronic conditions. Results: The study included 2,386 adults with T2D aged 18 years and older. Nine out of ten individuals failed to meet the PA recommendations, and 86.2% did not participate in any moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic PA. The main factors associated with not adhering to PA recommendations were older age, female sex, lower educational attainment, lower monthly income, treatment with tablets or tablets plus insulin compared with diet alone, sleeping less than5 hours per day, and extended use of screen-based devices during weekends. Conclusions: Most adults with type 2 diabetes in Qatar do not meet physical activity recommendations, with lower adherence among older adults, females, those with high screen time, specific treatments, and lower education or income. Diabetes management and education should include targeted interventions to address barriers, while public health efforts should reduce sedentary behavior and improve access to physical activity for disadvantaged groups.