Wickramasinghe V P, Lamabadusuriya S P, Atapattu N, Sathyadas G, Kuruparanantha S, Karunarathne P
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Ceylon Med J. 2004 Dec;49(4):114-8. doi: 10.4038/cmj.v49i4.1920.
As in many other Asian countries, Sri Lanka is in the phase of a rapid demographic, nutritional and epidemiological transition. As a result dietary habits and lifestyle are changing. These have led to new health problems in the region. Childhood overweight and obesity are examples of such problems.
To provide information on the nutritional status of 8-12 years old schoolchildren in an urban area of Sri Lanka.
Seven schools situated in the city of Colombo were randomly selected. They showed a fair representation of children of all social levels. Fifty students from each grade (years 4, 5, 6, 7) of each school were randomly selected. Their height was measured using a stadiometer to the closest 0.1cm and weight measured using an electronic weighing scale (Seca, France) to the closest 100 g. Calibration was checked with a standard weight at each 25 measurements. Information regarding behaviour, feeding practices and socioeconomic factors were obtained by a questionnaire filled by the parent or the guardian. To define obesity and overweight, sex and age specific body mass index (BMI) criteria recommended by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) were used. The age and sex specific BMI 5th percentile from revised NCHS (2000) growth charts were used to define thinness. Weight and height Z score of less than -2 from the median of height for age and weight for age derived using the ANTHRO software (CDC, USA) were used to define stunting and underweight respectively. Data were analysed using Epilnfo 2000 (CDC, USA) computer package.
Anthropometric data of 1 224 children (48% boys), and feeding practices and behaviour pattern data of 1 102 children (44% boys) were analysed. Obesity prevalence among boys (4.3%) was higher than in girls (3.1%). The prevalence of thinness was 24.7% in boys and 23.1% in girls. 5.1% of boys and 5.2% of girls were stunted. 7.0% of boys and 6.8% of girls were underweight. 66% of obese children and 43.5% of overweight children belonged to high-income category (monthly family income more than Rs. 20,000). Apart from family income, behaviour patterns did not significantly influence the nutritional status.
Although the data are not representative of the entire country, nutritional transition is evident in the city of Colombo. Obesity and overweight in older children are some emerging nutritional problems that may be the consequence of emerging patterns of the lifestyle and diet in response to social and cultural changes.
与许多其他亚洲国家一样，斯里兰卡正处于人口、营养和流行病学快速转变阶段。因此，饮食习惯和生活方式正在发生变化。这些变化导致该地区出现了新的健康问题。儿童超重和肥胖就是这类问题的例子。
提供有关斯里兰卡一个城市地区8至12岁学童营养状况的信息。
随机选取了科伦坡市的七所学校。这些学校能较好地代表各个社会阶层的儿童。从每所学校的每个年级（4、5、6、7年级）中随机选取50名学生。使用身高计测量他们的身高，精确到最接近的0.1厘米，使用电子秤（法国赛多利斯）测量体重，精确到最接近的100克。每测量25次就用标准砝码检查校准情况。通过家长或监护人填写的问卷获取有关行为、喂养方式和社会经济因素的信息。为定义肥胖和超重，采用了国际肥胖特别工作组（IOTF）推荐的按性别和年龄划分的身体质量指数（BMI）标准。使用修订后的美国国家卫生统计中心（2000年）生长图表中按年龄和性别划分的BMI第5百分位数来定义消瘦。使用ANTHRO软件（美国疾病控制与预防中心）得出的年龄别身高和年龄别体重中位数的体重和身高Z评分小于-2分别用于定义发育迟缓及体重不足。使用Epilnfo 2000（美国疾病控制与预防中心）计算机软件包对数据进行分析。
分析了1224名儿童（48%为男孩）的人体测量数据，以及1102名儿童（44%为男孩）的喂养方式和行为模式数据。男孩的肥胖患病率（4.3%）高于女孩（3.1%）。男孩的消瘦患病率为24.7%，女孩为23.1%。5.1%的男孩和5.2%的女孩发育迟缓。7.0%的男孩和6.8%的女孩体重不足。66%的肥胖儿童和43.5%的超重儿童属于高收入类别（家庭月收入超过20000卢比）。除家庭收入外，行为模式对营养状况没有显著影响。
尽管这些数据不代表整个国家，但科伦坡市的营养转变是明显的。大龄儿童的肥胖和超重是一些新出现的营养问题，可能是生活方式和饮食模式因社会和文化变化而出现改变的结果。
