Abstract

Background: Research on low physical activity (LPA) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains limited.

Aims: To assess the disease burden associated with LPA using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

Study Design: Longitudinal epidemiological study.

Methods: GBD 2021 data were used to extract information on the burden of eight LPA-related conditions-breast cancer, chronic kidney disease, colorectal cancer, diabetes mellitus (DM), ischemic heart disease, lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, stroke, and tuberculosis-analyzed by age group, sex, country within MENA, and year (1990-2021).

Results: The age-standardized disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate for LPA-related diseases in MENA declined by 8.62%, from 431.84 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 394.64 per 100,000 in 2021. In 2021, Sudan (846.47 per 100,000), Iraq (630.29 per 100,000), and Afghanistan (626.88 per 100,000) recorded the highest age-standardized DALY rates. Across all age groups, females had higher DALY rates than males in both 1990 and 2021.

Conclusion: Despite a recent decline, the MENA region continues to experience a greater LPA-attributable disease burden than the global average. The increasing contribution of DM and breast cancer highlights evolving trends, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions such as lifestyle promotion and improved access to health facilities.