oa Qatar 2021 National Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: A descriptive review

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is an effective preventative measure for diverse health risks among all age groups ¹. Global PA guidelines provide recommendations on the required levels for active lifestyle based on evidence-based behavioral benchmarks to increase awareness and reduce overall morbidity and mortality rates ². The Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines (QNPAG) were first developed in 2014. The recently released QNPAG-2021 provides an updated evidence-based practical guide on PA prescription for practitioners, physicians, educators, and individuals who wish to engage in regular PA. This review aims to provide a summary of how the second QNPAG was developed. Methods: QNPAG was developed by Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in collaboration with key stakeholders in Qatar; such as the Ministry of Public Health, Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Health Care Corporation, Naufar and others. The steering committee formed a technical advisory group of local and international sport medicine scientists, epidemiologists, and public health experts. Recent literature and global guidelines were evaluated and synthesized. Specific health outcomes and population groups were then proposed taking into consideration the prevalence of diseases, culture, and geographical location. Results: Three main chapters were added on PA benefits and sedentary behavior-associated risks for healthy population; people with medical conditions; and people with special challenging conditions. QNPAG 2021 included additional sections on pandemics, outbreaks and quarantine; humidity and air pollution; substance use; and locations for PA in Qatar. Other topics were added targeting obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, disabilities, mental health disorders, and down's syndrome. Detailed exercise prescription (Frequency/Intensity/Time/Type), and relevant examples were provided together with safety tips. Conclusion: The updated QNPAG is expected to raise awareness and help increase PA levels in Qatar. However, more emphasis on PA recommendations and strategical implementation is required through promotion, practice, and policies within the different sectors in the country.