Obesity and Physical Activity Levels among Students and Youths

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the current level of physical activity of the population according to age groups; (b) whether the proportion of overweight children in our schools is currently on the decline or rise; and (c) whether there are studies or Ministry-led initiatives to monitor the dietary habits, physical activity and healthy weight range of our children and youths.

The Health Promotion Board conducts a triennial survey of lifestyle risk factors, including dietary habits and physical activity of students in secondary schools, Institutes of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics, junior colleges/centralised institute (JCs/CI). The Ministry of Education (MOE) also monitors students’ weight status, measured as BMI-for-age, at the primary, secondary and JC/CI levels.

During the survey period 2012-2014, the median duration spent on physical activity, which includes leisure, school-related physical activities and walking or cycling while commuting between places was reported at 250 minutes per week for polytechnic students, 339 minutes per week for secondary and JC/CI students, and 360 minutes per week for ITE students.

In another survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2013, the median duration spent on physical activity, including leisure, work-related and commuting, was reported to be 450 minutes per week among adults aged 18 to 69 years. It was the highest among the young adults aged 18 to 29 years at 510 minutes per week but at its lowest among adults aged between 30 to 49 years at 420 minutes per week, before rising again in the 50 to 59 age group.

The proportion of overweight and severely overweight children in our mainstream schools has increased from 11% in 2011 to 12% in 2015. Various initiatives have been introduced in schools to encourage good dietary habits and regular physical activity to promote health and help in weight management. For example, there are now more healthier options in school canteens. School tuckshop operators are encouraged to use healthier ingredients and healthier food preparation methods. Drinking water is strongly encouraged through extensive presence of water coolers while all beverages sold in schools have to have reduced sugar levels. Through the increase in Physical Education (PE) periods, students’ base participation in sports and physical activities has also increased to at least two hours per week. Other opportunities for physical activity participation include Physical Sports Co-curricular Activities and sports enrichments, such as Sports Education Programme, inter-class games and sports carnivals. In addition, parents play a very important role in role-modelling active living and healthy eating for their children. Children develop these habits more effectively when these are done as a family, including the involvement of other care-givers.

We will continue to work with the other agencies to monitor the trends of overweight and obesity, levels of physical activity and other risk factors in the children, youth and adult populations. Achieving a healthy lifestyle that includes active living and healthy eating needs to start from young. In this regard, we are working with partners on a holistic approach to address the health challenges faced by our children and youths, including overweight. We will develop more programmes and initiatives to help them cultivate healthy habits. We will make the necessary announcements in due course.