The rates of overweight and obesity are rising to epidemic proportions, especially among women. There are many health risks associated with increased weight. This study aims at providing information on the overweight and obesity and its associated factors among non pregnant and non lactating women aged 15 to 49 years in Sri Lanka. Multistage cluster sampling method was used. A household survey was carried out in nine districts, each randomly selected from all 9 provinces. Thirty Grama Nildhari areas per district were selected, each cluster consisting of 21 randomly selected households. Data collection was by an interviewer administered questionnaire. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated. International classification was used to identify overweight women. Total of 6071 households were included in the study. Of the 27,862 residents in the selected households, 27.3 percent were women aged between 15 and 49 years. Of them, 18.2% had BMI <18.5 (thin), 52.4% were BMI between 18.5-24.9 (normal), 22.8% were between 25.0 and 29.9 (overweight) and 6.6% were BMI 30.0 or above (obese). When Asian cutoff value is applied 37.8% (BMI 18.5-23.0), 28.7% (BMI 23.01-27.5) and 15.2% (BMI>27.5) were normal, overweight and obese respectively. Higher level of husband's education and higher wealth quintiles were associated with risk of overweight or obesity. Increasing level of overweight and obesity prevalence among women between 15-49 years indicates the important role of health professionals in promoting preventative measures and encouraging positive lifestyle behaviors of women during health encounters. We recommend counseling women about safe and effective weight loss and weight management programs.

Based on new evidence and lessons learned within the last decade, pregnant women may not receive adequate iodized salt where the coverage of universal salt iodisation is poor. World Health Organisation has stated this could jeopardize optimal brain development of the fetus. This study was aimed to assess the iodine status of pregnant women in Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional clinic based nationally representative study was conducted. Three randomly selected antenatal clinics from each province, 30 randomly selected pregnant women from each selected clinic were included in the study. A total of 739 pregnant women were studied and casual urine samples collected to estimate iodine levels. Median urinary iodine levels in pregnant women was 113.7 g/L, which is far below the WHO recommendation between 150 and 249 μg/L indicating inadequate iodine status of pregnant women in Sri Lanka. Urine iodine distribution indicated 61.3%, 21.7%, 15.2% and 1.8% of pregnant women had an inadequate, adequate, above requirement and excessive intake respectively. Urinary iodine concentration significantly decreased with advancing pregnancy. Inadequate iodine intake was evident in 47.4%, 60.2% and 68.8% of pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester respectively. In conclusion, there is an urgent need to identify a programme to provide adequate iodine to pregnant women to ensure optimum fetal brain development.

To assess the iron status among children aged 5 to 10 years. A cross sectional study in Gampaha district. A sample of 704 children aged 5-10 years resident in a sample of households selected using a two-stage sampling method. A pre tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio demographic characteristics, housing and sanitation facilities and other relevant variables from the households. Anthropometry was performed on all children aged 5 to 10 years using standard procedures. Venous blood samples were taken to assess the haemoglobin (Hb) level, levels of Serum Ferritin and C Reactive Protein. Overall prevalence rate of anaemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in children aged 5 to 10 years in Gampaha district was 22.7%, 22.1% and 13.5% respectively. The prevalence of iron deficiency among the urban children was significantly higher than that among rural children. The source of water to the households in the households with piped water had a higher prevalence of iron deficiency which was different from the others. The prevalence of iron deficiency among stunted and wasted children was higher though not at a significant level. A substantial proportion of children who were not anaemic were iron deficient. Iron deficiency is an important health problem in this population. Only half of iron deficient children were anaemic and anaemia cannot be solely explained by iron deficiency.

Background: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in an urban and rural population in Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted in 3 health areas selected randomly, one in rural and 2 in urban. In each sector, 180 adults between 30-59 years equally from both sexes were included. Blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference were measured in each participant. Fasting blood samples were taken to assess plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin and HbA1C. Insulin resistance was detected by the homeostasis model assessment method (HOMA-IR). Results: From total 345 participants, 46.1% were men and 52.9% women. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 25.8% (23.9% in men and 27.4% in women; P = 0.27). Prevalence of each component of MetS in studied population was: 62.9% for central obesity, 28.1% for high TG, 35.9% for low HDL, 40% for high BP, 18.8% for high FPG, 3.9% for high HbA1C, 44.1% for overweight and 9.3% for obesity. Hypeinsulinaemia and insulin resistance was 26.9% and 22.3% respectively. Age, high BMI, waist circumference, FPG, TG, BP, HbA1C, insulin and low HDL significantly higher with subjects with MetS (P = 0.000). Hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance was significantly higher in rural sector, obese, centrally obese, high BP and high TG subjects. Conclusion: One fourth of study population had metabolic syndrome, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome was strongly associated with hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance. Need urgent action to reduce risk in developing type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in this population.