Life style

Childhood obesity- a bad sign of what might follow

Published

4 years ago

2021/01/31

by Randima Attygalle

‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ calls for rephrasing today into ‘Bad food and screen time make Jack an obese boy’. Childhood obesity is increasing rapidly in Sri Lanka and the present COVID-19 pandemic is a double whammy, with children being home-bound with no physical activity. The increased screen time spent on virtual learning adds fuel to the fire.

“Although we did see more obese and overweight children in high income settings in the past, today the incidence of obesity is rising among the urban middle class,” observes the Consultant Paediatrician and Professor of Paediatrics from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Prof. Ishani Rodrigo. She cites a recent survey among 5-18 year olds in urban Sri Lanka which showed an obesity prevalence of 10.3% and overweight prevalence of 11.3%. Studies in the Colombo, Gampaha and Jaffna Districts reflect a higher prevalence of childhood obesity says Dr. Rodrigo. “We are yet to unearth island-wide data on the problem,” she adds.

In 2019, according to the WHO, an estimated 38.2 million children worldwide, under the age of five years were overweight or obese. Once considered a high-income country problem, excess weight and obesity are now on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. In Africa, the number of overweight children under five has increased by nearly 24% percent since 2000. Almost half of the children under five who were overweight or obese in 2019 lived in Asia.

The etiology of obesity is multi-factorial and complex. Although at a basic level it is about more ‘calories in’ than ‘calories out’, there is a genetic contribution as well, says the paediatrician. “Although pathological obesity is attributed to medical conditions such as Cushings Syndrome and hypothyroidism what is more often seen is simple obesity. It is often the food and lifestyle which contribute to it.”

Increased intake of food high in simple carbohydrates, sugars and fats, convenience food such as pastries and kottu high in energy, fast food, sweetened beverages, flavoured milk, fizzy drinks, large portion sizes and frequent snacking are among the major triggers of obesity in children. Poor intake of vegetables and fruit in the diet, less outdoor play, increased screen time, less household chores for children and dependence on electrical appliances as opposed to doing tasks manually have made the situation worse.

Food advertising aimed at children, enabling availability of sugary beverages at affordable prices and lack of healthy food choices in school canteens/tuck shops (the choices largely being starchy and sugary food) have also accelerated this national health dilemma. “In the UK, the school meal policy was revised, adopting the healthy school lunches which were promoted by the famous master chef Jamie Oliver. The country also imposed a sugar tax on beverages depending on the amount of sugar they contain,” explains Prof. Rodrigo who calls for a similar shift in the local policy. “Although the Ministry of Health had issues dietary guidelines, they have not yet filtered to communities and there are no national level programmes to have a dialogue with parents, teachers and school authorities on this national health crisis.”

COVID pandemic has also led to an alarming increase in the weight of children across all age groups. “Children have lost most opportunities for physical activities including walking to school, playing with friends and organized sports. With virtual classrooms replacing real classrooms, children spend a considerable time before screens. Most of the entertaining is also afforded by screens. With very little to do at home, children eat often to relieve their boredom and mothers too tend to make more treats at home and feed their children which could go against them.”

Once obesity is established, managing of it becomes very challenging, warns Dr. Rodrigo who urges parents to encourage healthy eating and living. “Children usually eat the family diet, hence if the family diet is rich in starchy, fatty and sugary food and low in vegetables and fruit, they will automatically follow this.”

The long term repercussions of childhood obesity are multiple: adult obesity, the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, heart disease, strokes and orthopaedic complications including joint pains and early osteoarthritis, increased levels of cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver are among these. The condition can also trigger skin problems such as thickening and discolouration of skin and stretch marks and also cause breathing problems including obstructive sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep), obstruction to airway and snoring. Childhood obesity also increases risk of fractures and certain cancers in adulthood including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon cancers.

Addressing childhood obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach with collective inputs of paediatricians, nutritionists, physical training instructors, psychologists etc. “Motivation of the child and family or motivational counseling is the key in intervention which if often very intensive,” remarks the Professor. Following the initial assessment involving physical markers and other necessary medical tests, the psychological assessment involving the child and his/her family would follow. “Family history of obesity, family perception and understanding of the problem and motivation to achieve a healthy weight is important in this process,” she notes. Regular monitoring of children and motivational therapy sessions help keep children and their families on track, she says.

The ‘Nutri-Fit Programme’ at the University Hospital of the Kotelawala Defence University manages overweight and obese children. Conducted through the Paediatric Clinic of the hospital, the programme emphasizes on becoming healthier and more fit rather than losing weight. “Weight loss inevitably happens as a result of this approach,” explains the professor who goes on to note that this facility is extended to healthy cooking demonstrations for children, exercise and yoga sessions.

Obese children need to be empowered to overcome psychological trauma the condition entails, remarks the Consultant. Destigmatizing obesity, motivational counseling, removing the guilt stigma, making them partners in achieving the target, emphasizing health rather than obesity, identifying their strengths and encouraging them and early involvement of a clinical psychologist in addressing these issues are among the tools of empowerment. Severe cases of obesity may need certain medications.

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Life style

Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society gifts sight to the world

Published

1 day ago

2025/03/16

Thilina Walpola

A School Eye Camp

Founded by the late Dr. Hudson Silva, the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society (SLEDS) which is nearing 65 years is the first of its kind in the world to provide corneas completely free of charge to locals as well as foreigners through its International Eye Bank. Among the donors of eyes are several Presidents and Prime Ministers of the country. The other affiliated bodies of SLEDS are the Dr. Hudson Silva Memorial Eye Hospital and the Human Tissue Bank which provide a yeoman service to the public.

BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

At age 18, Eranga Madushan’s future looked bleak with keratoconus (a disorder of the eye that results in progressive thinning of the cornea) claiming both his eyes. Thanks to his physician’s recommendation for a corneal transplant, Eranga was fortunate to have received suitable corneas from the Eye Bank of the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society which were successfully transplanted at the Kandy National Hospital.

Now 22-years old, this young man from Minipe has successfully finished his education and is employed. “I even passed the vision test and got my driving license – all made possible thanks to the noble service of the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society,” says Eranga.

His is one of thousands of such success stories. These exemplify the thought-provoking discourse of Sivi Jathaka story delivered by the Buddha when, in one of his Bodhisathva’s births, he gave away his eyes to a blind beggar. There cannot be a better living testimony to this concept of dana than the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society (SLEDS), now approaching 65 years.

Separating the cornea from whole globe

Giving life to a dead eye

In 1958 Hudson Silva, a medical student started a campaign under the banner, ‘Give life to a dead eye,’ to popularize the donation of eyes after death to obtain corneas for the Colombo Eye Hospital which had long waiting lists for eye replacements but without sufficient donors. Eyes at this point were obtained only from those who died without custodians in hospitals and homes for the elders and executed prisoners.

With the help of newspaper articles and public meetings, Hudson Silva’s campaign continued. By 1961, he had qualified and appointed a resident surgeon at the Colombo Eye Hospital. SLEDS got underway officially in a very small scale on June 11, 1961 at Dr. Silva’s Ward Place home in Colombo. Among the 40 founding members of the Society was Dr. Silva’s mother who pledged her eyes to be donated after death. When she died shortly thereafter, he himself grafted her corneas on the eyes of a poor farmer and thereby restored his sight. In 1965, Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake presiding at the official opening of the International Eye Bank, pledged his eyes after death. After his demise in 1973, his wishes were fulfilled.

With the objective of extending this service to foreigners awaiting eye replacements, Dr. Silva started connecting with senior eye surgeons from various parts of the world. In 1964 he dispatched his first eyes overseas – flying three set of donor eyes packed in dry ice to Singapore’s Government General Hospital. Thus commenced the country’s international eye donations on a Vesak Poya Day when five Singaporeans regained their sight.

Following the wide media coverage this attracted the world over, SLEDS was able to open its doors to the entire world. In the late 70s, on government-donated land on Vidya Mawatha in Colombo 7, SLEDS’ headquarters along with its Eye Bank were relocated and the present building was built with the help of Japanese funds. It was opened by the then Prime Minister R. Premadasa in 1984.

President William Gopallawa at the event of donating the the land at Vidya Mawatha, Colombo to set up SLEDS

Global demand

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment, according to the WHO statistics. In at least one billion of these, vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness at a global level are refractive errors and cataracts.Vision impairment, according to the WHO, poses an enormous global financial burden, with the annual global cost of productivity losses estimated to be US$ 411 billion.

The demand for corneal transplants (keratoplasty) is on the rise with increasing prevalence of eye diseases and the rising elderly population. “Global statistics indicate that over 12.5 million people worldwide are waiting for corneal transplants. We are committed to bridge this gap every year by donating corneas and to date our International Eye Bank had donated 95,151 corneas to foreigners from 57 countries. In addition, nearly 60,000 locals including many soldiers injured in combat, have received corneas,” says the Senior Manager of the SLEDS’ International Eye Bank, J.S. Matara Arachchi.

Donor registration

Having ‘grown’ with the institution since he was recruited in 1979 by the founder himself, Matara Arachchi says that the Eye Bank has decentralized its operations today with 150 branches island-wide enabling more people to become potential donors. The online consent registration facility is also available now on the SLEDS website. “We see an overwhelming interest among youth registering themselves with us to donate their eyes which is very encouraging,” says the official noting that many Sri Lanka Presidents and Prime Ministers have donated their eyes. “A cornea taken from President J.R. Jayewardene was split in two and grafted on to two Japanese patients and his other cornea was grafted onto a local patient,” he says.

Dr Hudson Silva

Potential donors need to be excluded from certain diseases for them to be eligible donors. Apart from registered donors, corneas from the dead are also donated by surviving family members. The youngest such donor was a four-year-old whose parents offered to donate their deceased child’s eyes to help another regain vision.

Harvesting of the eye needs to be done within four hours of a person’s death and the cornea itself has to be used on a patient within 14 days explains Matara Arachchi. “We hardly have any corneas left beyond the shelf life given the big demand for them. In case any are not grafted, they are often used to practice surgery and research purposes.” Donation of eyes does not cause any disfiguration to a body of a deceased, says the official who reiterates that the process enables the donor to look natural.

Preserving a single cornea cost about USD 300- 450 says the official. Corneas are donated to patients operated in both the state and private hospitals without discrimination. The institution, he says, is run on donations made by individuals and organizations. “Although we do not charge foreign recipients, many of them come forward to assist the institutions as means of expessing goodwill and appreciation.”

Eranga Madushan who regained sight thanks to the International Eye Bank

Free eye care

The eye hospital founded by Dr. Hudson Silva in 1992 at the Vidya Mawatha premises, was named in his honour after his death. It is committed to make eye care available to local patients at an affordable price aligned with the vision of its founder. The hospital is equipped with a fully-fledged operating theatre and an OPD with state-of-the-art equipment. Dr. M.H.S Cassim, a former consultant at the National Eye Hospital serves as the Medical Director of the SLEDS and Dr. Shamintha Amaratunge serves as consultant surgeon. “The hospital performs nearly 1,200 cataract surgeries per year and the patients are provided with lenses completely free of charge. In addition, we also provide spectacles to needy people,” says the Eye Hospital’s Manager, H.D.A.J Abhayawardena.

He adds that island-wide eye camps at village and school level are conducted by them to make eye care more accessible to people. The contact lenses laboratory is another ambitious initiative of the SLEDS which is planning to expand its work says Abhayawardena. “With the help of Japanese technology, we set up our own production plant to manufacture contact lenses locally- the first of its kind here at home. This venture can save a lot of money spent on imported lenses.”

Human Tissue Bank

Following the passing of the Human Tissue Transplantation Act in 1987, Dr. Hudson Silva succeeded in establishing the Human Tissue Bank of SLEDS in 1996 enabling Lankans to donate human tissue and limbs in addition to the eyes. “Only people under 70 who are free of certain diseases are eligible to donate tissue and limbs after death and we need to obtain the tissue within 12 hours of a person’s death,” says the Manager of the Tissue Bank, T.B Prabath.

Many orthopedic, plastic, cardiac, neuro, eye and maxillo-facial surgeons have successfully grafted these tissues. During the time of the war, many in armed forces have benefited from the Tissue Bank, says Prabath. “There is an overwhelming demand for tissues for patients involved in motor traffic accidents and those who have sustained burn injuries,” says Prabath urging more people to come forward to pledge their support.

Fashion

Mythical Ceylon Collection by CHARINI

Published

1 day ago

2025/03/16

Thilina Walpola

By Zanita Careem

CHARINI is a well-known brand renowned for its bold yet elegant statement designs and unique concepts. This season,popular designer CHARINI will be presenting a collection that gives Sri Lankan traditional art a contemporary twist, bringing the mythical creatures of Sri Lankan history to life, beautified with floral elements from ancient paintings.

Each element has been meticulously hand-drawn with intricate details, staying true to the rich heritage of Sri Lankan artistry. These hand-drawn illustrations have then been carefully transformed into artworks, which are printed onto fabric to seamlessly blend tradition with modern design. This fusion of craftsmanship and innovation brings a unique depth to each piece in the collection. This is… the Mythical Ceylon Collection by CHARINI.’’

Life style

Experience a memorable Iftar at Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort

Published

1 day ago

2025/03/16

Thilina Walpola

This Holy Month, Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort invites guests to gather in the spirit of Ramadan and indulge in a sumptuous Iftar dinner buffet at S Kitchen, during this month of Ramazan said a press release.

The release said to begin the evening, guests can break their fast with a thoughtfully curated selection, including dates, kanji or soup, dry fruits, and a choice of four refreshing beverages. Light hot appetizers such as samosas, spring rolls, fish rolls, fish buns, mini pizzas, cutlets, mini hot dogs, and satays, along with fresh salads and assorted sandwiches, ensure a nourishing start to the meal.

Following the breaking of fast, guests can then indulge in a lavish Iftar dinner buffet, featuring a rich international spread crafted by our culinary team. From Middle Eastern delights to Sri Lankan specialties and a variety of global flavors.

The Iftar dinner buffet also offers a special promotion, where when you ‘Reserve For Five, One Dines Free’, making it the perfect way to celebrate together with family and friends.

At Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort one can enjoy a truly heartwarming Iftar experience, blending tradition, community, and world-class cuisine in an elegant setting said the release.