10 percent of schoolchildren unhealthy: Research

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

A school health survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Medical Council of Sri Lanka reveals that 8-10 per cent of school children, mostly from urban areas are suffering from obesity, diabetes, blood pressure, hypertension and kidney failures due to poor nutrition practices.

The Medical Research Institute’s Nutrition Consultant, Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, who was involved in the research, said their studies had revealed that in urban areas, especially in the Colombo district, 8-10% school children were over weight and had poor dietary practices.

“School-going age is the best time to cultivate good nutritional practices and dietary habits. Nowadays children eat high-fat and sugary food. They don’t eat their lunch properly and not bothered about their meals and their ingredients. These bad eating habits, if continued, may affect their adulthood,” she said.

The study prompted the Health Ministry to decide this week to ban non-nutritious and artificial food in school canteens from next year. The School Canteen Policy Act and the National Nutrition Act are to be presented for cabinet approval soon by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.