Pandemic restrictions see Lankans gaining weight: Study
The fat is not in the fire, as the saying goes but it has settled well and truly on the bodies of Sri Lankans.
Yes, the restriction to homes compelled by the unprecedented COVID- 19 pandemic has caused increased physical inactivity and weight gain among
Sri Lankans, a study has found.
The online cross- sectional survey had been conducted between May 27 and June 2, when Sri Lanka was in the throes of a lockdown, by Prof. Ranil Jay award en a, Piumika Sooriarachchi and Tormalli Francis.
Prof. Jayawardena is from the Department of Physiology and Ms. Francis ( is a Research Assistant Health and Wellness Unit) of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Ms. Sooriarachchi is studying for her PhD at Australia’s Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.
Titled ‘Increased physical inactivity and weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka: An online cross-sectional survey’, it has been published in the much- accessed ‘ Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews’ of the Netherlands- based Elsevier publications in June. It is believed to be one of the largest online surveys conducted in the country.
“The questionnaire including socio-demographics and physical activity- related questions was distributed as Google forms through social media platforms ( such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and also WhatsApp). There were 3,707 people in all 25 districts who responded,” he says, harking back to May as the country reached its COVID- 19 peak in the third wave. The profile of the 3,707 who responded was:
Mainly young adults of around 35 years of age, with the largest group being in the 26-30 years category.
59.6% were females.
The respondents were from all 25 districts, while the highest number was from Colombo, Gampaha and Kandy districts.
Among them the majority lived in rural areas – 40.1% (1,488); the city-dwellers were – 27.3% (1,011); and people living in municipal council areas were – 32.6% (1,208). The survey group represented all ethnic groups.
Most respondents had a degree level (69.1% or 2,563) or tertiary level (25.6% or 948) education.
Employment status:
Employed – 2,336 (63.0%); Self-employed – 200 (5.4%); Unemployed – 272 (7.3%); Fulltime students – 618 (16.7%); and Retired – 56 (1.5%).
Almost half the respondents (48.4% or 1,796) had a net monthly family income of more than Rs. 100,000. Reiterating that the survey found an overall increase in physical inactivity such as reduced exercise, increased sitting time and screen time, Prof. Jayawardena pointed out that a considerable proportion of the population faced increased body weight.
He stressed that regular physical activity is a key public health behaviour as it has a remarkable impact on both mental and physical well-being. However, even before the pandemic, more than 50% of Sri Lankan adults were either inactive or had low levels of physical activity. This is while Sri Lanka has a high prevalence of obesity and obesity-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) because of people’s unique body composition with a higher body fat percentage at a lower body mass index ( BMI). Therefore, the current COVID- 19 pandemic may further worsen this situation.