Trends in sedentary behavior among undergraduate university students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan

Objective: To determine the trends and gender-based differences in sedentary behavior among undergraduate university students. Methodology: This analytical cross-sectional study included 375 undergraduate university students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Non-probability convenience sampling was employed. Students aged 18-26 years from all disciplines were recruited. Sedentary behavior was evaluated through sedentary behavior questionnaire, which had nine items and was validated. Data were analyzed on SPSS 21. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to determine gender-based differences in sedentariness. Results: Out of 375 students, 287 (76.5%) were females and 88 (23.5%) males with the mean age of 21.02±1.84 years. Students spent 7.46±3.78 hours and 7.95±4.17 daily in sedentary behaviors during weekdays and weekend, respectively. Statistically significant gender difference in total sedentary time per week was observed with males being more sedentary compared to females. Conclusion: Undergraduate university students spend a greater time being inactive with the highest trend of sedentary behavior shown in sitting and talking on phone, followed by watching television and videos. Males spend more sedentary time as compared to females on weekdays, whereas on weekends the ratio is similar.