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SINGAPORE: An Obesity Prevention Taskforce will likely be set up by April 2009 as part of a major anti-obesity campaign to be launched next year.
The taskforce is one of Health Promotion Board's initiatives to help students battle the bulge.
12-year-old Shawn Roshan Pillay from the Loyang Primary School weighed 56 kilogrammes last year.
But after joining his school's Special Workout Programme to fight obesity, the Primary 6 student managed to shed 5 kilos and has even been discharged from the programme.
His classmate, Billy Aw, also lost weight - 2 kilos to be exact. Billy also joined the programme last year. Since then, he has trimmed down to almost his ideal weight.
Both boys now know the importance of keeping the flab off.
"I feel more healthy, more fit and I do not fall sick easily," said Billy.
"Now, I don't get so tired easily....." said Shawn.
Loyang Primary's weight management programme has proved successful.
At the beginning of last year, 80 pupils were found to be overweight. Ten months later, 30 of them attained an acceptable weight.
This year, 82 students were overweight. But within four months, 17 managed to slim down.
The result was not achieved through exercise alone.
Food and drinks sold at the school canteen must fall under HPB guidelines. This means that food must contain less salt while drinks contain less sugar and preferably, they should also carry the 'Healthier Choice' symbol.
Loyang Primary is involved in the Model Tuckshop Programme run by the HPB to encourage schools to provide healthier choice of food and drinks to students.
Parents and teachers have also been roped in to help students cut down their weight.
Vevian Ng, the school's Head of Department (Health Education), said: "During our 'Rise and Shine' programme, our teachers will work out with the pupils and on the 22nd of every month, we have the 'Fruity-Vege Day'. On that day....the teachers will bring their fruits and eat together with the pupils in the classrooms. The pupils also keep a food diary and this is to make the pupils conscious of the food that they are taking.
"Once a week, the pupils will take the diary home and parents will look at the food the children have been eating......to help them be aware of the food that they have to pack for the children."
Loyang Primary is just one of many schools working in partnership with the HPB, which has various health education initiatives to help students battle the bulge.
HPB is rolling out more programmes in future.
Dr Wong Mun Loke, HPB's deputy director for Youth Health Division, said: "To engage the young, for instance, we know that we need to look for new, innovative ways to reach out to them. For example, 'The Healthy Food Trail' that we'll be organising......(it's) like treasure hunt out there to look for healthier choices.....either in the supermarkets or food courts, therefore raising their awareness on how to make healthier food choices out there.....for example, by recognising the (Healthier Food) symbol......."
HPB added that it will continue to work with stakeholders such as parents, caregivers and industries that play a key role in providing healthier food choices to students.
Singapore will also glean lessons from other countries on how they tackle obesity. - CNA/ir/ls
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