الفهرس 
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Abstract
Physical activity (PA) is such movements that resulted from any muscular or skeletal movements that require energy expenditure.
Health enhancing (PA) is that which helps health and functional capacities without harm or risk. Interventions for promotion of (PA) are the way of ensuring a good physical and mental health not only as young adults but also later in life. (PA) is defined by WHO as any body movement produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure. This includes all types of human movements such as competitive sports and exercise, cycling, active hobbies or the daily activities. (PA) is a key factor in reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, helps build, maintains healthy bone and muscles, reduces the risk of developing obesity and promotes psychological well-being; only if practiced throughout the life span. Physical inactivity (PI) was defined as the fourth leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases.
The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of (PA) and its predictors among Sohag University students and at the same time to determine the perceived barriers of performing physical exercise.
This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study on 536 university students in Sohag University (mean age 20.85±1.61 years, 53.3% males). The self-administered questionnaire included socio-demographic data, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Barriers to Physical Activity and Disability Survey (B-PADS).
We evaluated (PA) levels among the studied university students using the Arabic version of the long form of (IPAQ). Our study showed a high prevalence of (PA) among the studied university students (95%).
Regarding socio-demographic factors, (PA) tended to be higher among students < 20 years (97%) than those ≥ 20 years (94.3%), higher among students in the fourth grade (97.4%) than those in the other grades (first 96%, second 93.8%, third 96.5%, fifth 82.4% and sixth 66.7%), among married studied students (100%) compared with single (94.9%) and engaged ones (94.2%) and among rural (96.2%) than urban students (93.8%), but these differences weren’t statistically significant.
However, (PA) was significantly more prevalent among females (99.2%) than males (91.3%) and among students in faculty of Literature (98.4%) than studied students in other faculties (Medicine 81.5%, Engineering 90.3% and faculty of Law 95.5%). (PA) was more prevalent among students who work while studying (99.2%) than those who didn’t work (93.8%).
Regarding our results, there was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of time spent in (PA) (minutes/ week) by gender in the studied students. Females spent more time in domestic activities with a mean total (PA) time of (945.374±489.10) that was higher than that of males which was (743.32±766.48) who spent more time in work, transport and recreational activities.
According to (IPAQ) scoring and total (PA) MET, our results reveal that males achieved higher score in walking and practicing vigorous (PA) (502.21±430.68 and 407.83 ±1054.90) respectively, while females had higher scores in practicing moderate (PA) (407.83 ±1054.90), and this difference was statistically significant.
Regarding (PA) level, the studied students’ characteristics had a statistically significant effect. According to gender, (57.5%) of females were highly active, (20.2%) were moderately active and (7.4%) were low active compared to (42.5%) of males were highly active, (79.8%) were moderately active and (92.6%) of them were low active.
The current study showed significant differences between (PA) level and the enrolled faculty, the studied students in faculty of Medicine had the highest percentage of low (PA) (44.4%), compared to (11.1%) for faculty of Engineering, (14.8%) for faculty of Literature and (29.6%) for faculty of Law.
The current study showed significant difference in (PA) level and work while studying, (30.2%) of students who worked while studying were highly active, (0.00%) of them were moderately active and (3.7%) of them were low active, compared to (69.8%) of students who didn’t work while studying were highly active, (100%) of them were moderately active and (96.3%) of them were low active.
The current study identified some of the barriers to (PA) and exercise among the studied students in Sohag University. The top five common barriers reported by the studied university students were feeling lazy (47.7%), preferring to do other things (36.6%), lack of friends’ company (35.9%), lack of motivation (30.5%) and weather (35.2%).
Conclusion
The current study showed a high prevalence of (PA) among the studied students in Sohag University. Most of Sohag University studied students were either moderately or highly active (95%) and only (5%) were physically inactive. Females were more active than males and spent more time in domestic activities. Predictors of (PI) among Sohag University students were being a male and student in faculty of Medicine.
This study had identified several barriers to (PA) among Sohag University students. This undertaking may assist in developing effective interventions. The findings from this research could increase awareness amongst the university community about barriers to (PA).
Recommendations
1- Increasing awareness in the community about the importance of (PA) among university students and the bad burden of (PI) on physical and mental health since adolescence and through the whole life.
2- Increasing awareness among the university students about (PA) and (PI) and how to engage (PA) programs during studying without interfering with the academic goals.
3- Developing routine programs for (PA) among university students.
4- Proper evaluation, management and follow-up of barriers to (PA) in university students.
5- Encouraging healthy lifestyle, outdoor activities and leisure-time spent in exercising and sports among university students.
6- Conducting future studies on a wider scale, at repeated time-points and using different data sources.