Sri Lanka is witnessing a considerable increase in childhood obesity, and as per the available information, nearly half of the students in a classroom are obese. As was pointed out by Consultant Paediatrician at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Dr. Deepal Perera, the present situation is such that there are about 15 to 20 obese children per classroom of 30 to 40, when there used to be only two-three such cases that existed per classroom before.

As was reported by The Daily Morning this week quoting Perera, childhood obesity could be seen in children as young as two-years-old, which, for a country like Sri Lanka, is alarming.

This issue is not one that started recently or immediately, and this is obviously not something that is going to be resolved. Malnutrition is on the rise as Sri Lankan’s purchasing power has declined. However, the lack of physical activity among children is still an issue to which many parents, teachers, and the authorities do not pay attention to, for it has more long-term adverse impacts than short-term, obvious negative impacts.

Obesity is when a person, who, in this case, has a body mass index of 30 or above.

This situation has to change. The health authorities need to step up their efforts. In this process, which involves the children of a new generation most familiar with modern technology, the authorities must employ technology-based modern methods to raise awareness. The Health Ministry’s Health Promotion Bureau has been conducting regular awareness-raising programmes. However, health risks that concern children require a newer and a more attractive and innovative approach. While taking to social media platforms is crucial when it comes to practical aspects of raising awareness,taking legal and policy related actions is decisive. In this regard, the authorities should take into account what individual economists and health experts have said, especially when it comes to artificial and processed food of which the harms Sri Lanka seems to be ignoring because in the current economy, cheap food has become more appealing to the general public than healthy and relatively more expensive food items.

Addressing child obesity in Sri Lanka, or in any country for that matter, requires a multi-faceted approach involving public health initiatives, community engagement, and law and policy changes. While such formal and methodical measures may not pan out in all circumstances, that is a start which Sri Lanka should take seriously.

One of the main measures is holding public awareness campaigns, regarding which education programmes are crucial. Sri Lanka should launch nationwide campaigns to educate parents, teachers, and children about healthy eating habits and the importance of physical activity. School-based interventions, in this process, are important as it could have a more direct impact on children. In fact, matters relating to healthy eating habits should be a priority. As Sri Lanka has paid attention to providing school children with food, paying more attention to improving the quality of the food provided as school meals is one of the immediate responses that the health and education authorities can pay attention to.

In the long run, policy and legal steps to regulate the consumption of unhealthy food among children, and also collaborations with the food industry, should be taken into consideration, and such collaborations could pave the way for sustainable and voluntary steps aimed at providing healthy food targeting children not only in schools but also outside schools.

Implementing these steps requires coordination among Government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, communities, and families. The success will depend on sustained commitment and collaboration from all sectors involved.

At the end of the day, Sri Lanka is in a situation where protecting the next generation is a priority. Individuals identified from the next generation are already leaving the country, and have little to no faith in the country’s socio-economic situation. At the same time, in the present socio-economic situation, where malnutrition has risen significantly, protecting the next generation is important both in terms of health, democracy, and the country’s future. 

For the next generation to contribute to the country’s economy, they must be healthy enough, which is the responsibility of the authorities. This however is not a responsibility that lies only with the authorities that are already in power. This is a responsibility that is going to exist for several years, if not decades, and economic revival is not something that can be achieved overnight or with only a select segment of the population.