Vol. 1 No. 1, February 2022

Physical Activity and Nutritional Behaviour: Implication for Health of Christian Women in Bwari Area Council of Abuja

Whoba, Esther Chioma, Dominic, Olufunmilola Leah, Seidina, Iliasu Yakubu, & Adeoye, Sikiru Adewale

Abstract

Physical activity’s (PA) benefits is consolidated by good nutritional behaviour. However, the problem of physical inactivity and sedentariness are burgeoning with females generally the most affected. Some church-based programmes are organised to encourage physical activities among Christians, but female participation is often low—a potential primary cause of non-communicable diseases among other consequences. The study’s objective was to determine Physical Activity (PA) and Nutritional Behaviour (NB) implications on the health of Christian women in Bwari Area Council of Abuja. The study design was a cross-sectional survey consisting of all Christian women in Bwari Area Council of Abuja. A multistage sampling procedure comprised of random, proportionate and convenient sampling techniques was used to select 342 women. A validated researcher-developed questionnaire (r: Cronbach Alpha = 0.75) was used for data collection. For descriptive analyses of physical activity and nutritional behaviour percentage, Mean, and Standard Deviation were used, while inferential statistics of multiple regression was used with a 0.05 alpha level to determine their impact on the women’s health. Findings show that majority of the women (282 or 82.50%) were physically active, with low levels of unhealthy nutritional behaviours such as skipping lunch, 48 women or 14.00%, had no consumption of fruits 18 (5.30%) and vegetables 42 (12.30%). 29.80% rated their health as ‘fair’ while PA and NBs have significant implications on self- rated health status accounting for 3.50% variations (R2= 0.035, F(3, 338) = 4.136, p < 0.007) while PA MET-mins/wk (= 0.114, p < 0.040) and sedentary behaviour ( = -0.105, p 0.050) were the only significant predictors of health having positive and negative impacts. Christian women might be at health risks due to high sedentary behaviour. It was recommended that the women should imbibe physical activity combined with good nutritional behaviour targeted to minimise overall daily sedentary behaviour in order to stay healthy.

Keywords

Physical activity, lifestyle, health, Christian women, eating pattern

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