Children below Age 18 who Are Diagnosed with Obesity-related Illnesses
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the number of children under 18 diagnosed with obesity-related illnesses and the adequacy of medical resources and preventive measures provided by the government. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong stated that 13% of children aged 6 to 18 are overweight, with many higher-risk students showing signs of elevated blood pressure or blood lipids. Higher-risk students are referred to the Health Promotion Board’s Student Health Centre for lifestyle coaching, while those with medical conditions are directed to public sector hospitals for specialist care. Preventive efforts include providing healthier school meals, increasing physical activity, and deploying Student Health Advisors to secondary schools to counsel students on healthy behaviors. Finally, the NurtureSG initiative supports parents through educational materials designed to help them instill healthy lifestyle habits in their children from a young age.
Transcript
88 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Health (a) how many children below 18 years of age are currently diagnosed with obesity-related illnesses; (b) whether there are adequate medical resources to cater to their healthcare needs; and (c) what is being done to prevent and reduce obesity among children.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Obesity is a risk factor for developing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Childhood obesity often persists into adulthood, when it can cause adverse health effects.
Overweight children at the upper end of the cohort weight range are at higher risk of developing such medical conditions earlier. About 13% of our children aged 6-18 are overweight. Among the higher risk overweight1 students screened at the Health Promotion Board's Student Health Centre (HPB SHC) in 2016, less than 2% had impaired fasting blood glucose, and about one in three had elevated blood pressure or elevated blood lipids.
To strengthen intervention early through lifestyle management, higher risk overweight children are referred by schools to the HPB SHC for assessment and lifestyle coaching. Those found to have an obesity-related medical condition are referred for specialist care at public sector hospitals.
HPB works with schools to increase opportunities for physical activity and make healthier meals more accessible for students. Student Health Advisors are also deployed to secondary schools to provide counselling to help overweight students change unhealthy behaviors.
To make healthy living a norm, NurtureSG also published a mini-booklet on "5 Habit Hacks for a Healthier Child" to educate and empower parents with the skills to improve their child's health. MOH and HPB will continue our efforts to foster healthy behaviours in our young to improve their physical well-being.