Abstract:
Countries across a broad spectrum of economic development were experiencing an
unprecedented rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Non Communicable diseases
were the leading cause of death globally than all other causes combined, of which 80%
of deaths occur in low and middle income countries. The NCDs affect all levels of
socioeconomic and ethnic groups. In considering the government teachers in Colombo
district, most of them are doing their activities based on school and home. The prime
aim of the present study was to identify the physical activity level (PAL) of the
government teachers in Colombo district. Two hundred subjects were selected for the
sample by using multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected through Global
Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) that was developed by WHO to assess the PAL of
people by considering work, transport and recreational related activities. Chi-squared
test, Kruskall-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test were used to analyze data by the
Minitab 14 software. Average PAL of government teachers were 1009 MET min (910,
1109). Furthermore 19% (0.14, 0.25) government teachers were in high PAL and 28%
(0.22, 0.35) in low PAL. 53% (0.46, 0.60) were indicates the moderate PAL. According to
the BMI classification 55.3% of normal weight individuals were reported as high level of
physical activity, 46.4% over weight individuals were reported as law level of physical
activity and 83% of obesity individuals were reported as moderate level of physical
activity. The PAL of male teachers (1175 MET Min) was significantly different from
female teachers (961 MET min), (p<0.05). There was no significant effect of the
transport media to the changes of PAL of the government teachers (p>0.05).
Furthermore, average value of PAL was not significantly changed with the civil status of
teachers (p>0.05). Present study reveals that, the government teachers who were
subjected to the project were in moderate active level. Continued improvement in
monitoring of physical activity would help to reduce the non-communicable diseases.
