Abstract:
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of
overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity, and the underlying socio-demographic
correlates among Sri Lankan adults. Data were from 4532 adults aged 18 years
randomly selected for a national level study on diabetes and cardiovascular
disease. Weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were measured and body
mass index (BMI) calculated. The mean (95% confidence interval) BMI and WC
were 21.1 kg m-2 (20.9-21.3), 22.3 kg m-2 (22.1-22.4) and 78.0 cm (77.5-78.6)
and 77.5 cm (77.0-78.0) for males and females, respectively. According to the
proposed World Health Organization cut-off values for Asians, the percentage of
Sri Lankan adults in the overweight, obese and centrally obese categories were
25.2%, 9.2% and 26.2%, respectively. Based on the cut-offs for Caucasians, these
were 16.8%, 3.7% and 10.8%. Our findings were compatible with prevalence of
obesity in regional countries. In addition, female sex, urban living, higher
education, higher income and being in the middle age were shown to be associated
with overweight and obesity in Sri Lankans. In conclusion, we have documented a
relatively high prevalence of overweight and obesity, particularly, abdominal
obesity among adults in Sri Lanka which is a middle-income country. Urgent
public health interventions are needed to control the problem at an early stage.
