Abstract:
The dietary habits of people changed from plant-based diet to high fat, energy densed animal-based
food. In addition, with the advancement of science people became less physicaly active. These
significant changes of life style led to a pandemic of obesity in the world. Initially, obesity was
considered a problem mainly confined to high-income countries. The trend has changed and, at
present, overweight and obesity are on the rise in low and middle-income countries, especially
among the urban population. In Sri Lanka the prevalence of obesity and its complications are
increasing at an alarming rate (Tudawe, 2000; Wijewardene, at al 2005).
