​Prevention of obesity among children requires effort, involvement and commitment of all parties including individuals, parents, schools, the food and drink industry and other related sectors to shape a much healthier environment for children. The Minister of Health underscored the matter in the message in conjunction with World Obesity Day. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, explained that the problem of child obesity is a joint responsibility and needs to be overcome with the cooperation of all communities in the country.

Obesity among children is concerning as it can affect the emotional and mental well-being such as being depressed, highly stressed, extreme anxiety and feelings of social isolation. These emotional and mental problems can continue into adulthood. If the problem is not curbed from the beginning, the trend will continue to increase and obese children have a high risk of becoming obese adults and experiencing health problems due to non-communicable diseases.

The Ministry of Health emphasises preventive measures at every stage of life, including from the womb and the child stage. Among the initiatives that have been taken: Strengthening related policies and guidelines to prioritise a healthy environment; Cooperating with various sectors through the actions outlined in the 'Brunei Darussalam National Multi-sectoral Action Plan on Non-Communicable Diseases' (BruMAP-NCD) 2021 to 2025; and continuing to conduct mass media campaigns and health activities to raise awareness and knowledge about obesity and the importance of healthy lifestyle practices.

World Obesity Day is celebrated every 4th of March to raise public awareness and understanding of the causes of obesity and the actions needed to be taken to tackle it. The theme of this year's celebration is "Let's Talk About Obesity and Children".

Source:
RTB NEWS

by RTB NEWS

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