A lot of things in Singapore should be growing, but our obesity rate shouldn’t be one of them.
If Singapore doesn’t watch its weight, we could very well become one of the heaviest countries in Southeast Asia.
A study released by the Health Promotion Board revealed that Singapore’s national obesity rate (NOR) could potentially hit 15% by 2024 if health and lifestyle habits are not checked.
According to The Straits Times’ coverage of the study, there were two new trends related to the potential rise – adults gaining weight after entering the workforce as well as childhood obesity. The data showed that an average Singaporean gains 4kg within the first four years of work, and that overweight children at the age of seven were more likely to be overweight in their adulthood.
The most recent statistic available showed that Singapore’s national obesity rate (NOR) lies at 11% at 2010, which has seen an annual 0.7% increase since 2004.
While it is still one percent point below the global average of 12%, Singapore’s position vis-a-vis our Southeast Asian neighbours may be not as impressive as you think.
Heavy Hitters
In terms of prevalent obesity, Singapore currently lies third at 30.2% in the region behind Malaysia and Thailand (In 2014).
Arguably the country with one of the highest regional obesity rates lies across the causeway, with Malaysia possessing a NOR of 18% in 2016.
Based on that year’s statistics, that makes up a whopping 5 million people, with another 30% of Malaysians being overweight.
Naturally, food is a huge part of Malaysia’s culture, and Malaysian Health Minister actually brought this up as an explanation for the high percentage.
Following behind Malaysia is Thailand, another country known for its amazing food and laidback lifestyle.
According to an academic study conducted in 2010, 35% of men and 44.9% of women were categorised as overweight or obese. In fact, Thailand barely just lies ahead of Singapore in terms of obesity prevalence in 2014.
Philippines’ isn’t doing so well either. In 2013, despite high levels of poverty, 31.3% of adults in the Philippines were either overweight or obese.
Lightweight:
That said, obesity isn’t an issue in every country in Southeast Asia. In fact, several countries boast NOR of below 5% in the region.
Impressively, data reports from the World Health Organisation revealed that several agriculture producing countries in SEA had a healthy obesity rate.
Specifically, Vietnam had a NOR of 1.7% in 2008, while Cambodia had a NOR of 2.1%.
In fact, a new report released in 2017 showed that Vietnam has the lowest adult obesity rate in the world at 1%.
Across the region, Myanmar is doing respectfully well too, with a 4.0% NOR.
With a pinch of salt
While there is an observable ranking in obesity among countries in the region, these results must be taken with a pinch of salt (no pun intended).
Many of these statistical studies measure obesity differently, with researchers in different countries utilising a variation in body mass index standards.
In fact, factors like economic growth, gender, age and income levels must be taken into account as they can contribute to the interpretation of obesity rates in a country.
Nonetheless, if the Health Promotion Board says it’s a problem, we shouldn’t take it too lightly.
There are many things in Singapore that should be growing, but our national obesity rate definitely shouldn’t be one of them.
