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Organized sports participation is associated with higher physical activity levels and lower BMI in Saudi male adolescents, but also with shorter sleep duration.

Among 124 Saudi male adolescents (70 athletes, 54 non-athletes), athletes had significantly higher physical activity levels (98.6% vs 55.6% meeting guidelines) and lower BMI (23.64 vs 29.69 kg/m2). However, athletes reported shorter average sleep duration (9.06 vs 11.28 hours per day), though both groups exceeded 8 hours. No significant difference was found in daily screen time.

Last updated: Jul 10, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Physical activity, dietary habits, screen time, and sleep duration among Saudi male adolescent athletes and non-athletes: a cross-sectional study.

observational

Bin Radhyan F, Tomar R, Bursais AK, Alaqil AI · Frontiers in public health (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: Participation in organized sports (athlete vs non-athlete status)
Outcome: Physical activity levels (METs-minutes/week), BMI, fruit consumption frequency, sleep duration (hours/day), screen time (hours/day)
Effect Size: V=0.26 for fruit consumption difference; Cohen's d not reported for other comparisons
Population: Saudi male adolescent high school students aged 16-17 years (70 athletes, 54 non-athletes) from Riyadh

Result:

PubMed: 42422684DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1871762

Mechanism Graph

Organized sports participation increases structured physical activity
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Higher physical activity contributes to lower BMI
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Sports involvement may promote healthier dietary habits (e.g., fruit intake)
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Result: Athletes have higher activity, lower BMI, and better fruit consumption but shorter sleep duration

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Self-reported sleep duration and dietary habits may be subject to recall bias
  • ⚠Small sample size (n=124) and single-city recruitment limit generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

Did athletes sleep less than non-athletes in this study?▼

Yes, athletes reported an average of 9.06 hours per day compared to 11.28 hours for non-athletes, a statistically significant difference.

What was the difference in BMI between athletes and non-athletes?▼

Athletes had a significantly lower mean BMI (23.64 kg/m2) compared to non-athletes (29.69 kg/m2).

Was screen time different between the two groups?▼

No, there was no significant difference in daily screen time (4.04 hours for athletes vs 4.44 hours for non-athletes).

What percentage of athletes met physical activity guidelines?▼

98.6% of athletes met physical activity guidelines, compared to only 55.6% of non-athletes.

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References

  1. 1.Bin Radhyan F, Tomar R, Bursais AK, Alaqil AI. "Physical activity, dietary habits, screen time, and sleep duration among Saudi male adolescent athletes and non-athletes: a cross-sectional study.." Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42422684 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1871762
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.