- Joined
- Oct 30, 2014
- Messages
- 36,768
- Points
- 113
SINGAPORE - The Republic has made progress in its war on diabetes but obesity and insufficient physical activity are still problems among the population, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Sunday (Nov 14).
The prevalence of obesity in Singapore across all ages rose from 8.6 per cent in 2017 to 10.5 per cent last year, he noted.
"We have also returned to the previous level seen in 2010, after having decreases over the last decade," he said.
Singaporeans consumed on average 12 teaspoons of sugar daily, much more than what is nutritionally required, added Mr Ong, citing the 2018/2019 National Nutrition Survey.
"So while we see some signs of change over the last three years since we waged war on diabetes, it will take time for the changes to percolate throughout the population and show a long-lasting effect," he said.
About 19,000 people here are diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes each year.
Diabetes is caused by having too much sugar in the blood.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is genetic and unpreventable. It occurs because the pancreas naturally does not produce enough insulin - a hormone that controls blood glucose levels.
Type 2, related to weight management, is caused by lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake and a lack of exercise.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his 2017 National Day Rally speech that fighting diabetes is a long-term issue integral to Singapore's future well-being.
Mr Ong noted on Sunday that Covid-19 has affected lifestyles.
"For some Singaporeans, deprived of social activities, their lifestyle may have become more sedentary, which will set us back in the war on diabetes and negate the initial results."
He added that it is now more critical to tackle diabetes as Covid-19 progressively becomes an endemic disease.
Those with diabetes are at higher risk of developing severe Covid-19 complications and poorer health outcomes, he said at an event organised by local charity Diabetes Singapore at the Lifelong Learning Institute to mark World Diabetes Day on Sunday.
One in three individuals in Singapore is at risk of developing the disease in his lifetime, and an estimated one million Singaporeans will have diabetes by 2050 if nothing is done to mitigate the risk.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...es-but-obesity-insufficient-physical-activity
The prevalence of obesity in Singapore across all ages rose from 8.6 per cent in 2017 to 10.5 per cent last year, he noted.
"We have also returned to the previous level seen in 2010, after having decreases over the last decade," he said.
Singaporeans consumed on average 12 teaspoons of sugar daily, much more than what is nutritionally required, added Mr Ong, citing the 2018/2019 National Nutrition Survey.
"So while we see some signs of change over the last three years since we waged war on diabetes, it will take time for the changes to percolate throughout the population and show a long-lasting effect," he said.
About 19,000 people here are diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes each year.
Diabetes is caused by having too much sugar in the blood.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is genetic and unpreventable. It occurs because the pancreas naturally does not produce enough insulin - a hormone that controls blood glucose levels.
Type 2, related to weight management, is caused by lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake and a lack of exercise.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his 2017 National Day Rally speech that fighting diabetes is a long-term issue integral to Singapore's future well-being.
Mr Ong noted on Sunday that Covid-19 has affected lifestyles.
"For some Singaporeans, deprived of social activities, their lifestyle may have become more sedentary, which will set us back in the war on diabetes and negate the initial results."
He added that it is now more critical to tackle diabetes as Covid-19 progressively becomes an endemic disease.
Those with diabetes are at higher risk of developing severe Covid-19 complications and poorer health outcomes, he said at an event organised by local charity Diabetes Singapore at the Lifelong Learning Institute to mark World Diabetes Day on Sunday.
One in three individuals in Singapore is at risk of developing the disease in his lifetime, and an estimated one million Singaporeans will have diabetes by 2050 if nothing is done to mitigate the risk.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...es-but-obesity-insufficient-physical-activity
