Solving Singapore’s obesity Problem

The National Health Survey 2010 noted that 10.8% of Singaporeans aged between 18 and 69 was classified as obese. Such individuals could do worse than adopt the Palaeolithic diet to lose the stubborn fat.

The World Health Organization defines obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. An individual is identified as obese if his or her body mass index (BMI) is greater than or equal to 30.

Individuals who suffer from obesity are at risk of a myriad of health issues such as, but not limited to, hypertension, stroke and coronary heart disease.

Furthermore, researchers at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore estimated that the lifetime medical costs for an obese individual could cost US$19,000 (S$24,000) more than for a normal weight individual.

Despite the Singaporean Government’s continued efforts at promoting a more active lifestyle to reduce obesity rates, there has been no significant reduction in the obesity rate.

This burgeoning obesity rate can be attributed to high-calorie foods that are nutritionally sparse when compared to wholesome foods such as turkey breast.

Furthermore, high-fructose corn syrup, a synthetic sugar that is extremely detrimental to a person’s health, is extremely prevalent in Singaporeans diets, through cola drinks.

A prominent quote in the fitness community may explain why the government has failed to reduce Singaporeans expanding waists.

“You cannot outwork a bad diet”

This quote suggests that no amount of exercise can mend the adverse effects of a bad diet. It implies that an individual has to make an intimate change to his or her diet if they are to lose a significant amount of weight.

An example of a nutritious diet that can aid in Singapore’s objective of healthier citizens is the Palaeolithic diet.

The Palaeolithic diet eschews grains, sugars and modern vegetable oils in favour of high-quality meat, fish, eggs and vegetables.

This form of eating mimics the eating habits of humans of the Palaeolithic era — a period lasting around 2.5 million years that ended about 10,000 years ago with the advent of agriculture and domestication of animals

An example of a meal based on the principals of the Paleolithic diet is a lean chicken breast fried in olive oil paired with a hearty portion of grilled asparagus on the side

This diet also encourages the consumption of nuts, such as almonds, in between meals.

Significant research has been done on the effects of the Paleolithic diet and it’s benefits on the human body.

Research done by the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2009 proved that individuals who adopted the Paleolithic diet showed various other health benefits, such as a 16% drop in total cholesterol and a 35% drop in triglycerides

A similar study conducted by the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2008 highlighted that individuals who adopted the Paleolithic diet lost an average of 2.3kg, dropped their waist circumference by 1.5cm and dropped their body mass index by 0.8 in the span of just three weeks

In conclusion, research studies have shown that the Palaeolithic diet is not just a fad but an extremely beneficial way of eating that is feasible in the long term.

Its principals are simple and easy to follow and it undoubtedly has the potential to aid Singapore’s problem with obesity before it gets out of hand