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High diabetic risk among young people in SL

17 Feb 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Scientists at King's College London and the National Diabetes Centre of Sri Lanka have found evidence of a high number of risk factors for type-2 diabetes among the young urban population in Sri Lanka.

Type-2 diabetes develops largely as a result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. In Sri Lanka, studies have shown that one in five adults has either diabetes or pre-diabetes, but until now no research has been carried out into risk-factors among young people.

The study, published in the PLoS One journal, is part of a research programme aiming to develop methods to prevent diabetes in young people in Sri Lanka, as the disease is now having a major public health impact. The scientists suggest that urgent action is now required to raise awareness of diabetes and obesity in developing countries and encourage young people to make lifestyle changes to reduce their risk.

The DIABRISK-SL project is an international collaboration between Sri Lankan scientists led by Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya and British scientists led by Dr. Janaka Karalliedde from the Cardiovascular Division at King's College in London. The team surveyed 22,507 people aged between 10 and 40 from several areas in Sri Lanka to check for various early risk factors for type 2 diabetes such as high body mass index (BMI), raised waist circumference and high levels of physical inactivity. They also checked for family history of the disease.

The survey revealed that 5,163 people (23 per cent) had two or more risk factors for diabetes, with two or more risk factors found in 24 per cent of children aged 10 to 14. Raised BMI was found in nearly 20 per cent of children aged 10-14, and 15 percent of children aged 15 to19. Most worryingly, the prevalence of physical inactivity and central obesity was nearly 40 per cent in females aged under 16. The results also showed that physical inactivity was a lot higher among females in all age groups, with overall inactivity rising in both sexes with age.

“We have found that this report really confirms that South Asia is becoming the centre of a worldwide diabetes epidemic,” Dr. Karalliedde said.

“We were expecting the levels of risk factors to be high, but we are still surprised at just how high they are. The fact that we found such a high prevalence in children has not been shown Sri Lanka before, or anywhere else in South Asia, and is of great concern.

“This dramatic rise is clearly linked to a decline in physical activity and mirrors global trends of rising childhood obesity. Being overweight in childhood means people are much more likely to become obese as adults and will have a greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Now that we know how widespread the problem is, we can take steps towards identifying high risk groups to evolving preventive strategies,” he said.

Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya, of the National Diabetes Centre said, “The data highlights the need for early intervention in younger people in Sri Lanka. A primary prevention intervention trial is now underway to evaluate the effects of intensive lifestyle intervention on improving diet and exercise. We will have the results of this in the next two years.”

He emphasised the importance of public health education and awareness and stressed that these results have already contributed to the development of a National Non-Communicable Disease Strategy to combat type-2 diabetes in Sri Lanka.

International Diabetes Federation President Jean Claude Mbanya said, “These figures reflect the disturbing rise in risk factors for type-2 diabetes among young people being seen worldwide. This is an example of good-quality scientific research that will bring solutions to the global epidemic of diabetes and other chronic non-communicable disease.

“We hope that the DIABRISK-SL project in Sri Lanka will lead to effective and cost-effective interventions that work in the real world. This is a golden opportunity to make a very deep and very positive long-term impact on individuals, families and entire communities in Sri Lanka,” Professor Mbanya said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 346 million people worldwide have diabetes, with 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occurring in low-income and middle-income countries.

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High diabetic risk among young people in SL

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