Singaporeans are living longer, but are we living healthier?
As Singapore’s population increases in age and our lifestyles become more sedentary, reports show that 2 in 5 Singaporeans suffer from at least one chronic illness such as diabetes or high blood pressure. On the Red Dot learns about how some people have taken steps to change their lifestyles for the better, including bringing healthy living habits to the workplace.
In this episode, Professor Chia Kee Seng, Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, dispels some misconceptions that people have about their health:
- People shouldn’t start worrying about their health only in old age – if one leads an unhealthy lifestyle in their earlier years, they are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases later on
- Someone else will get the illness, not me – every individual should make an effort to reduce their own risk
- Research into the genetics of common diseases show that lifestyle factors matter more than genetics
Media Coverage:
- On the Red Dot, Channel 5, 5 February 2014, Wednesday