The Use of a Community-based Organization to Change Lifestyle Characteristics Related to Non Communicable Diseases: A Community Based Intervention Study Among 25-60 Year Olds

Sri Lanka as a developing nation needs to identify feasible and cost effective measures to face the epidemic of NonCommunicable Diseases(NCDs) in the future. Experiences gained over many years in the developed countries can be of great value in planning and implementing NCD prevention and control activities in the developing countries Results from many studies have emphasized the fact that merely providing risk reduction measures for clinically high-risk people in health service settings would have only a limited impact in the whole country. On the other hand, if the population as a whole were to be targeted, even a modest risk factor and healthy lifestyle change would potentially have a huge public impact.This study attempts to implement a lifestyle intervention programme aimed at changing the dietary habits, physical activity and alcohol and tobacco consumption in the 25-60year old adults in the MOH area, Ragama and measure the effectiveness of the programme. Outcome measures are process indicators, as measured by change in the dietary patterns, alcohol and tobacco consumption and physical activity. Short term outcome indicators would be blood pressure and anthropometric measurements. The long term outcome indicators such as morbidity and mortality due to NCD will not be measured as this will be a short term study.