Physical Activity & Health Research Summary

This assignment asks you to summarize a collection of research articles focusing on the relationship between physical activity and various health outcomes. The articles cover topics such as gender-sensitive weight loss programs, life-course approaches to healthy aging, ecological models of health behavior, and strategies for promoting physical activity in clinical settings. Additionally, studies are included that examine the physiological effects of physical activity on spinal cord neuronal activity and its link to pain perception, along with analyses of how physical inactivity, smoking, and obesity contribute to disease risk and lifespan. The final section delves into the impact of leisure-time physical activity on dementia risk and compares the physical activity levels of children across 15 different countries.

Running head: SPORTS AND HEALTH AWARENESS IN ABU DHABI
Sports and health management in Abu Dhabi
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Background of the research.............................................................................................................3
Research aim................................................................................................................................4
Research objective.......................................................................................................................4
Research questions.......................................................................................................................4
Structure of the research paper....................................................................................................5
Literature review..............................................................................................................................5
Conceptual framework.................................................................................................................5
Literature review..........................................................................................................................6
Empowering community.............................................................................................................8
Economic benefits of physical activity........................................................................................9
Environmental issues...................................................................................................................9
Research methodology...................................................................................................................10
Outline of the research methodology.........................................................................................10
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................10
Research approach.....................................................................................................................11
Research design.........................................................................................................................11
Strategy of the research.............................................................................................................11
Data collection method..............................................................................................................12

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Outcomes.......................................................................................................................................13
Time scale......................................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14

3SPORTS AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN ABU DHABI
Introduction
Awareness regarding sports and health issues are important for the health and wellbeing
of individuals. Suitable physical activities and involvement in sports along with the basic
awareness regarding health can be stated as major components of a healthy lifestyle. The
government of Abu Dhabi realizes this fact and is interested in enhancing the awareness
regarding the health and sports in Abu Dhabi. Various studies and scientific evidences project
that the frequent practice of physical activities and sports with adequate health awareness allows
individuals regardless of their race, age and gender to live a healthy life (Hunt et al. 2014). It is
seen that various strategies in order to improve diet, quitting unhealthy substances like tobacco,
alcohol and food with saturated fat can bring in various diseases to human body and increasing
awareness regarding these issues can definitely improve individual’s lifestyle along with that it
can benefit the society in many ways.
Background of the research
The purpose of this research is to highlight the fact that increased awareness regarding
sports and health can be helpful to empower Emirati society and that can potentially help to the
sustainable development of Abu Dhabi. In today’s world, it is seen that overall physical
inactivity is approximated to cause at least 1.9 million deaths worldwide annually (Sallis et al.
2015). Due to inactivity the chances of cardiovascular diseases increase up to 1.5 to 2 times in
individuals and thus in modern world experts always recommend to get engaged in some
physical activities (Hamer, Lavoie and Bacon 2014). It is seen that the burden of non
communicable diseases are moving to the developing and underdeveloped countries throughout
the globe. In this situation why the individuals of Abu Dhabi are getting exposed in front of these

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diseases are becoming a matter of concern day by day. Chronic NCDs can surely be termed as
diseases of affluence; this justifies the main topic of the research, where it is necessary to build
proper awareness regarding health and sports in the land of Abu Dhabi for improving the state of
the nation. In the developed countries the higher burden of NCD is seen and that means that they
face a double load in the health services (Stenholm et al. 2016). Apart from that the sufferings of
the individuals brings in various troubles and becomes hurdles in the smooth path of the societal
development. Thus, prevention of NCDs by engaging in physical activities is a must for
everyone be it living in a developed nation or in a developing one.
Research aim
The aim of this research is to highlight various factors that affect individuals due to lack
of appropriate physical activities; such as various non communicable diseases. This research
aims to show that increased awareness regarding health and sports can help to sustain the
development of the country and will empower the Emirati community.
Research objective
 To increase the awareness regarding health and sports or physical activities
among the individuals of Abu Dhabi for a sustainable development of the nation.
 To show how can increased physical activities help individuals to lower threats of
non communicable diseases?
Research questions
R1. How lack of appropriate physical activities bring in various non communicable diseases?
R2. How the government of Abu Dhabi can increase adequate awareness regarding health and
sports among the individuals?

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R3. How can individuals lower their risks of non communicable diseases by increasing physical
activities?
Structure of the research paper
The introduction part of this research work gives an overview of the main topic of the
research and that is how increased awareness regarding health and physical activities help to
sustain the development of the nation. Apart from that the chapter one or the introductory part
includes the main research questions along with the objective of the research and the main
objective of this research work. After that in the literature review section, the contemporary
issues and debates in this context is mentioned with proper evidences. In the methodology
section it is mentioned how the research scholar intends to go about the social research work.
Brief of the methodological debates and specific techniques of taking out the research work is
mentioned in the methodology section.
Literature review
Conceptual framework
Lesser physical activity
Non communicable diseases
Increased physical activities
Lesser threats of non
communicable diseases
Increased physical activities = lesser threats of non communicable diseases

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Conceptual framework
Source: Created by author
Literature review
Worldwide it is seen that more than 62% of the adults are reluctant in engaging in any
kinds of physical activities which are beneficial for their health. It is a matter of fact that physical
inactivity is most seen among women, elder adults and individuals from either extremely poor
socio-economic background or individuals from higher socio-economical background. In many
cases physical activities decreases with aging during the adolescence and this trend is alarming in
Abu Dhabi along with in many countries worldwide (Hamer, Lavoie and Bacon 2014). Statistics
provide the fact that currently almost one third of the entire population of earth are suffering
from non communicable diseases due to lack of proper physical activities. In Abu Dhabi it is a
concerning fact that the decreasing physical activities and lesser programs regarding physical
education is making it difficult for the youths and the elder adults to live a proper healthy life. In
this way the higher body mass index rates are increasing among the adults of the residents of
Abu Dhabi exposing them in front of various cardio-vascular diseases and other non
communicable diseases (Hunt et al. 2014). This situation is directly related to the lack of proper
physical activities in leisure times and in many ways even more likely that the trends of passing
leisure times by watching television or playing indoor games. This trend needs to be in control
soon before major damage is done. It is the duty of the government that they should come up
with improvised policies regarding these issues. The government should support and arrange

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programs and debates regarding this issue and the general awareness regarding this topic should
be increased.
Direct and indirect benefits
It can be said that frequent physical activities like getting engaged in sports or any sorts
of physical activities can effectively help to achieve various gains which are health related. Apart
from lesser physical activities, individual’s uncontrolled usage of tobacco, alcohol and other
substances are making it difficult for the citizens of Abu Dhabi to live a healthy life and due to
these reasons their rate of life expectancy is decreasing majorly (Sallis et al. 2015). Thus in this
context, it is worth mentioning that, lack of physical activities lead to various health problems
like increased blood pressure, cholesterol level, sugar level and many more. Above all, lack of
physical activities increases stress and various types of cardio vascular diseases. It is a proven
fact that adequate physical activities effectively reduce risks of some cancers, type 2 diabetes and
cardiovascular diseases. These are the direct benefits of getting engaged to physical activities.
Figure: health benefits physical activities

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Source: (Hamer, Lavoie and Bacon 2014)
Minimum physical activity required
In this regard it can be said that an individual should get engaged in at least 150 minutes
in any kinds of physical activities in order to prevent any types of cardiovascular diseases for
them who are genetically prone to get exposed to these types of diseases. Apart from that if an
individual who has a physically fit body, if invests 45 minutes in any kind of physical activities
daily there should not be any physical issues. In today’s world, technological advancement and
economic affluence in majority of the households of UAE is affecting the general physical
activities of the citizen. In this context it should be mentioned that individuals can at least try to
take a small walk rather than using vehicles and even might help in daily chores as an act of
staying physically fit (Sallis et al. 2015). The government of UAE is thus encouraging in
building clubs where individuals can easily subscribe and enjoy and play various kinds of
outdoor sports, can swim, can ride horses and even can invest sometime in gym. The government
is providing huge financial back up to those clubs in order to keep the citizens fit to maintain a
healthy human resource for the country.
Empowering community
It is a matter of fact that as the government of UAE is trying to invest in clubs and in
various sports activities, in this way there would be immense requirement of human resources in
order to run the managerial works, coordinating and many other sectors. Thus in this way a huge
population can get jobs and this would rightly help to empower a significant amount of the
Emirati community (Stenholm et al. 2016). It is a matter of fact that the act of encouraging to get
physically fit is definitely the example of sharp vision of the government of UAE; as they

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understood that human resources are the asset of any nation and in order to sustain the
development of the country, the physically fit human resources is a major necessity.
Economic benefits of physical activity
There are various economic benefits of physical activities and this section of is research
gives a brief idea of the matter. If an individual gets engaged in adequate amount of physical
activities on a daily basis he would definitely witness reduced health costs, significantly
increased productivity, and positive social along with physical environment. It is a proven fact
that economic consequences of physical activities actually affect individuals, businesses of the
country and definitely the nation. Various secondary data provides the fact that in USA roughly 1
dollar investment in equipments and gears related to physical activities saves at least 3.7 US
dollars (Hamer, Lavoie and Bacon 2014). This astonishing data somehow attracted the attention
of the government of UAE and that made the government realize the effectiveness of investing
for physical activities of the general population of the country. Apart from that it is seen that
workplace physical activity programs can reduce various types of sick leaves up to 4 percent and
this is another statistic that backs up the entire idea of making the entire population of the
country more physically fit.
Environmental issues
The social and physical environment of the cities of the country UAE has immense
impact on the extent of the physical activities of the population. For an example, it can be said
that the promotion of physical activities by commuting allows the government to build a greater
utilization of the public transportations and that can attract the urban planners and agents of
transportation (Stenholm et al. 2016). The key issues in this regard are improving the
infrastructures like playgrounds, stairwells, road networks that can serve the purpose. There are

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some huddles in the path of the improvements; like criminal activities, decreasing air quality and
these can effectively reduce the positive factors of the good initiatives of the government.
Research methodology
Outline of the research methodology
The outline of the research shows the tools of the research methodology which were
chosen and executed by the social researcher. The research scholar somehow is able to provide
adequate explanation regarding the assortment of the methodology of the research for the topic
above mentioned.
Type of the research Selected Methodology
Philosophy of the Research Postpositivism
Design of the Research Descriptive
Research Approach Deductive
Research Strategy Interview of Focus Group
Process of Data Collection Primary
Data Analysis Process Quantitative Analysis
Research philosophy
In this research Post positivism is chosen as the main philosophy of the research as, it
would allow the researcher to emphasize interdependence between the social research and the

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participants of the research. For this research work, the researcher should invest more attention
on the quantitative factors. The chief constituents of this philosophical approach are the laws
relating interactions between the units of the research and the description of the boundaries for
the particular theory. A post positivist’s approach should also consist of the empirical indicators
to connect the observable phenomena and the hypotheses which can be tested using proper
scientific tool. Using Post positivism philosophy, the researcher would try to falsify the
hypothesis and especially quantitative analysis can be done in this way for this particular
research.
Research approach
The appropriate approach of research is the deductive method. In deductive approach, it
is majorly based on the active concepts and theories. The deductive approach can offer a
prospect for the research scholar helping him to examine the existing impression and relating the
same with the research topic.
For this study of research, the scholar has chosen the deductive approach as that can
enable the researcher to convert the common data into detailed information. Apart from that, this
can facilitate the research scholar to get to the bottom of the contemporary theories and the
information as an alternative of improving a new idea or a fresh theory.
Research design
For this research paper, the research scholar has selected the descriptive type of design. The key
cause behind this is the amalgamation of all the advantages regarding both the explanatory and
the exploratory type research design. This allows the research scholar to explain the subject of
the research and predicting the future occurrence that is directly related to the experience.

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Strategy of the research
For this particular social research, the research scholar will have to make good use the
questionnaires that should be e-mailed to the respondents or to be distributed within a precise
area where the researcher hopes to find them. Another form would be the interview, which is the
one to one communication that the researcher hopes to perform with some officials of the
administrative department, fitness trainers, doctors and general citizens. The survey is conducted
by making close ended questions and collecting data from reliable sources in order to collect the
factual data more precisely.
Interviewing can be defined as the process of data collection and an in-depth discussion is
made among the interviewer and the respondent. It is done with a reason like survey and
research, where both the parties are inclined towards contributing in a boundary that is one to
one. In this process, the stimuli of oral-verbal are being depicted and answered by means of oral-
verbal reactions. It is usually is considered as one of the most brilliant methods of data collection
because it allows a two way swap of information. In this way, the researcher gets to discern the
respondent while the respondent discovers about the researcher. The interviews should be
personal in nature, where the interviewer should go for open ended type of questions. In case of
the interview linked with data collection process, the chance of the non-responses will be almost
none; because in a face to face type of interaction, people would not be able to keep away from
answering the questions.
Data collection method
For the method of primary data collection, interviews and questionnaires must be the
chief instruments to get to know the chief motive of the topic. Relevant people like the officials
of the administrative department along with local and few other individuals would be the ones

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who should be targeted by the social researcher for the purpose of his research work and going
along with the data collection method. Subsequently, whatever the way is for the collection of
information, it ought to be fulfilling the requisites. The ultimate objective would to be to
productively finish the research study satisfying the aims and objectives of the research work by
an appropriate research study.
Outcomes
The main research questions were how the lack of physical activities brings in various
non communicable diseases and the research study rightly proves how inadequate physical
activities expose individuals in front of various health problems and diseases. On the other hand
the research shows how the government of UAE can take several initiatives in order to keep the
human resources of the country more physically fit in order to sustain the development of the
nation.
Time scale
Time duration Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4
Plans Making research
questions
Literature review Literature review
Data collection
Data analysis Data analysis Final outcome

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Chriqui, J.F., Economos, C.D., Henderson, K., Kohl III, H.W., Kumanyika, S.K. and Ward, D.S.,
2014. Environmental change strategies to promote healthy eating and physical activity and
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healthy ageing: the English longitudinal study of ageing. Br J Sports Med, 48(3), pp.239-243.
Hoeger, W.W., Hoeger, S.A., Hoeger, C.I. and Fawson, A.L., 2018. Lifetime of Physical Fitness
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Hunt, K., Wyke, S., Gray, C.M., Anderson, A.S., Brady, A., Bunn, C., Donnan, P.T., Fenwick,
E., Grieve, E., Leishman, J. and Miller, E., 2014. A gender-sensitised weight loss and healthy
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clubs (FFIT): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 383(9924), pp.1211-1221.

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Kuh, D., Karunananthan, S., Bergman, H. and Cooper, R., 2014. A life-course approach to
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Stenholm, S., Head, J., Kivimäki, M., Kawachi, I., Aalto, V., Zins, M., Goldberg, M., Zaninotto,
P., Magnuson Hanson, L., Westerlund, H. and Vahtera, J., 2016. Smoking, physical inactivity
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16SPORTS AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN ABU DHABI
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Liukkonen, J., Maddison, R., Ocansey, R.T., Onywera, V.O. and Prista, A., 2014. Physical
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