Increasing obesity rates in children and young adults are set to worsen already-high rates of diabetes in Singapore. Diabetes rates rose from 8.6% in Singaporean adults in 1992 to 11.3% in 2010, and would have gone up to 12.9% by last year, according to epidemiologists at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Based on current projections, 34% of young people aged between 24 to 35 this year can expect to be diabetic by the time they are 65, says Professor Chia Kee Seng, Dean of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
Prof Chia attributes the rising rates of obesity in those under 40 to “a big drop in physical activity” when people start working. “It is important for those in their 20s to recognise that the dramatic lifestyle changes as they enter working life will have very significant health impact when they are in their 60s,” he added.
Media Coverage:
- The Straits Times, 22 February 2016, Monday
- My Paper, 22 February 2016, Monday
- Lianhe Wanbao, 22 February 2016, Monday
- Shin Min Daily News, 22 February 2016, Monday
- FoodNavigator-Asia.com, 3 March 2016, Thursday