Obesity rising in Singapore

2006-07-29 09:12

Singapore - Obesity is on the rise in Singapore, paced by men and ethnic Malays who are consuming more fat and fewer fruits and vegetables, a national survey showed on Saturday.

Less health-conscious than women, 11.3% of the men queried confessed to eating deep-fried food at least six times a week, compared to 7.3% of women, the National Nutrition Survey found.

The increase in fat consumption comes from rising affluence with people eating richer foods and dining out more.

Among the races in the predominantly Chinese city-state, 20.2% of Malays were also indulging in more fat.

The survey included 1 410 adults between 18 and 74 in 2004. Chinese made up 60% while Malays and Indians 20% each, said the findings published in The Straits Times.

Overall, 42% of adults were eating the recommended two servings of vegetables daily, compared with 14.9% in 1998. The share of those who have least two servings of fruit a day rose from 20.4% to 28%.

But men and Malays bucked those healthier trends. And nearly half of Singaporeans eat more than they should: 48.2%, compared to 31.8% in 1998.

Those eating excessive fat rose to 42.7% in 2004, up from 24.9%. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA