Search the Community

One in nine Singaporean adults aged between 18 to 69 years were obese in 2010, and Singapore’s obesity rate is increasing at about 1 per cent per year, a survey revealed today (Jan 17). Following the findings of the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) National Health Survey, the One Million KG Challenge was launched by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) today. The One Million KG Challenge is Singapore’s first incentive-based national weight management movement, and aims to motivate Singaporeans to achieve and manage a healthy body weight, and collectively lose one million kilogrammes. Interested organisations and constituencies can pre-register for the challenge in roadshows starting today, in which their employees and residents will be able to sign up for the challenge. The first phase of the challenge is expected to reach some 30,000 local residents. To help participants sustain their healthy weight management efforts, HPB will provide them with a combination of self-monitoring tools, resources and access to programmes. HPB will also leverage online tools and the HPB Health Ambassador Network to increase peer-to-peer networking and support. Participants of the challenge will receive a starter kit and a “pixel” that they could redeem for a prize to kick off their weight management journey. Participants will also receive a “pixel” every month when they weigh-in at any of the Wellness Kiosks around Singapore and when they participate in a variety of activities that help them in monitoring and maintaining their weight. In addition, participants who have persevered in their weight management efforts will get to win top prizes such as a car, a holiday package and shopping vouchers in the Grand Draw to be held in October. The One Million KG Challenge is open to Singapore residents aged between 18 to 64, whose Body Mass Index (BMI) ranges from 18.5 to 37.4. Singapore residents whose BMI fall between 23 and 37.4 could pledge to lose 3kg at one go in the Challenge. For those whose BMI fall in the 18.5 to 22.9 range, they could participate in the challenge to maintain their weight. Starting March, registration will be open to Singapore residents to participate in the challenge at roadshows across Singapore and at the challenge portal, http://www.millionkg.sg Source: http://www.todayonline.com/daily-focus/health/one-nine-singaporean-adults-were-obese-2010-survey

We all know the benefits of keeping our weight in the healthy range. These include lower risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. But now, there is another reason to do. A study has shown that obese people are statistically less likely to survive in a severe car accident. The study was conducted by Dr. Dietrich Jehle from the University of Buffalo studied over 155,000 severe crashes that were reported to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Dr Jehle computed each victim

I feel quite sad reading this. Can this be considered child abuse? Obese 3 years old toddler in China

Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:51pm EST By Anne Harding NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Obese children who watch a lot of television are more likely to have high blood pressure than heavy children who don't spend as much time in front of the tube, the results of a new study shows. Increased psychological stress and junk food eaten while watching TV could be factors in the relationship, principal investigator Dr. Jeffrey B. Schwimmer of the University of California, San Diego, told Reuters Health. Obese children who watched 2 to 4 hours of TV each day were 2.5 times more likely than their peers who watched less TV to have high blood pressure, he and his colleagues found, while kids who watched more than 4 hours daily had more than triple the risk of having high blood pressure. TV watching time clearly influences obesity and high blood pressure is a known consequence of obesity, Schwimmer and his team point out in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. To investigate this relationship, they evaluated 546 children between 4 and 17 years old who were seeking treatment for obesity. Forty-three percent had high blood pressure. Most of the study participants with high blood pressure watched 2 hours or more of television. Time spent watching television was also associated with the severity of obesity, the researchers found. Kids who watch more TV may also be eating more fatty, salty foods, which could directly contribute to high blood pressure, Schwimmer and his colleagues note. Studies have shown that children who watch more TV experience more perceived psychological stress, Schwimmer noted, and evidence is mounting that stress can alter how the brain communicates with other organs, affecting blood pressure and body fat accumulation and distribution. The findings underscore the importance of limiting children's TV viewing to less than 2 hours a day, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, he said, and that this may be particularly important for overweight and obese children. Blood pressure is often not measured in children, and if it is measured, "it's often not done correctly," Schwimmer added. "I would encourage parents of children to raise the issue of blood pressure with their child's doctor." SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, December 2007.