Obesity & Health
A ‘Weight Management Programme’ (W.M.P.) with medical expertise has been launched by the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre (C.D.C.) for health conscious individuals.
Consisting of Fasting Blood Sugar and Lipid Profile tests, ECG and Cardiology report, a consultation with a doctor, an Exercise Programme and two follow up sessions for exercise, this programme is conducted at the Centre’s Weight Management Clinic, believed to be the only one of its kind conducted in Sri Lanka.
Visitors to the clinic will be given a demonstration and advice on exercise and other aspects related to weight management, the Centre said.
The clinic will also provide a personalized dietary prescription to each visitor, based on individual lifestyle and food habits.
It’s conducted by Clinical Nutritionist Dr. Ranil Jayawardena.
The W.M.P. also comprises follow up exercise sessions.
C.D.C. Senior Medical Officer Dr. (Ms.) Charuky Weerasuriya said: “While there are numerous gyms and other weight management programmes offering services to the public, we believe that W.M.P.s must be guided by a medically qualified person.”
She pointed out that although the likelihood of obesity increases with age, an increasing number of youth have been diagnosed with the condition. “Without the intervention of a healthy diet and appropriate exercise, obesity may develop into diabetes and many other medical complications over a relatively short period of time,” she said.
According to Jayawardena, a 5-10% loss of body weight can reduce the chance of developing a medical complication.
“At present, obesity is not only limited to developed countries, but has reached most developing countries including Sri Lanka. It is estimated that the incidence of obesity is substantially higher in urban areas such as Colombo,” he added.
Obesity can lead to a number of medical conditions such as osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, kidney and liver diseases, complications during pregnancy and surgical procedures as well as different types of cancer.
