Sri Lankans rank third most unfit in South Asia

India, Pakistan rank ahead of Sri Lanka  

By Huzefa Aliasger 

Sri Lanka has been ranked third in South Asia for insufficient physical activity, according to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

According to the Global Obesity Observatory and a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 37.2 per cent of adults above 18 are not involved in adequate physical activities required for a healthy life. 

The study, which was conducted by WHO in 2022, showed that women in general had a lower rate of physical activity than men, with 44.8 per cent of women having insufficient physical activity compared to 28.7 per cent of men. 

The criteria taking into account for the results were the percentage of the population attaining less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or less than 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, or equivalent.  

India is ranked first as the country with the most insufficient physical activity, with 49.4 per cent of the population physically inactive, followed by Pakistan at 45.7 per cent. 

A 2024 joint survey conducted by the Ministries of Health and Education in Sri Lanka, alongside WHO, found poor weight management among students. 21.4 per cent are underweight, 12.1 per cent are overweight, and 3 per cent are obese. Being underweight is typically a result of malnutrition, whereas overweight and obesity are linked to the regular consumption of unhealthy food, poor dietary habits and lack of physical exercise.