School based intervention has reduced obesity in Singapore

EDITOR—In 1992 Singapore's health ministry launched a national programme promoting a healthy lifestyle to address the common risk factors for chronic diseases such as obesity, physical inactivity, and cigarette smoking. Different age groups in the population were targeted, including school children. The health promotion board of the health ministry works in close partnership with the education ministry on obesity programmes for school children. The education ministry's “trim and fit” programme for primary, secondary, and pre-university schools aims to reduce obesity in school …