{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,1]],"date-time":"2026-02-01T05:29:08Z","timestamp":1769923748340,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,22]],"date-time":"2025-08-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755820800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The United Arab Emirates is experiencing a rising burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly metabolic syndrome (MetS), driven by rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes. In Dubai's diverse population, where expatriates constitute 85% of residents, understanding perspectives on physical activity (PA) is essential for effective prevention strategies. This qualitative study explored stakeholder experiences and views on PA as a preventive measure for MetS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 stakeholders, including policy officials, gym owners, trainers, gym members, and inactive individuals, recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and Hofstede's cultural framework to examine cultural influences on PA behaviors. Results indicated broad recognition of PA's importance in managing MetS but identified significant cultural and environmental barriers to participation. Key themes included cultural perceptions shaping engagement with PA and infrastructure challenges. These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored interventions and multisectoral collaboration to promote active lifestyles in Dubai's multi-ethnic context. This research offers valuable insights to guide public health initiatives aiming to reduce the burden of MetS through culturally sensitive approaches suited to this unique urban environment.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1477025","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,22]],"date-time":"2025-08-22T16:22:27Z","timestamp":1755879747000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Perspectives of physical activity in combating metabolic syndrome: insights from a multi-ethnic urban population"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Bushra","family":"Ali","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tim","family":"Evans","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rhonda","family":"Cohen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Anne","family":"Elliott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1451","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2020-102955","article-title":"World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour","volume":"54","author":"Bull","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12385","DOI":"10.1002\/jcp.28066","article-title":"Molecular mechanisms by which aerobic exercise induces insulin sensitivity","volume":"234","author":"Yaribeygi","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Cell Physiol."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1640","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192644","article-title":"Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome: a joint interim statement of the international diabetes federation task force on epidemiology and prevention; national heart, lung, and blood institute; American heart association; world heart federation; international atherosclerosis society; and international association for the study of obesity","volume":"120","author":"Alberti","year":"2009","journal-title":"Circulation."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.5114\/amscd.2019.86814","article-title":"Waist circumference cutoff points for predicting metabolic abnormalities in Lebanese adults","volume":"4","author":"Yamout","year":"2019","journal-title":"Arch Med Sci Civil Dis"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"811006","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2021.811006","article-title":"Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional population-based study","volume":"9","author":"Mahmoud","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4044","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16234044","article-title":"Physical activity level and dietary intake associated with fat-free muscle mass changes during intentional weight loss in overweight and obese subjects","volume":"16","author":"Gariballa","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nutrients."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1163\/9789004672598_007","article-title":"Characteristics of urban growth in the gulf states a Socio-cultural Analysis","author":"Ansari","year":"1983","journal-title":"Town-Talk: The Dynamics of Urban Anthropology"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1139","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare9091139","article-title":"The socio-demographic characteristics associated with non-communicable diseases among the adult population of Dubai: results from Dubai Household Survey 2019","volume":"9","author":"Alnakhi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Healthcare"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1096964","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.1096964","article-title":"How does urbanization affect public health? 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