Health Ministry Talks About Obesity, Reduced Activities Amid Pandemic

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia that has been lasting for a year and eight months has changed people's lifestyle significantly as pandemic restrictions forced many activities to be done remotely or from home. This situation makes people less physically active and tend to stay indoors for a long period of time. 

Daily routines that involve physical activities as simple as commuting to work are no longer the case for a majority of people. 

The Health Ministry’s acting director for non-communicable disease prevention and handling (P2PTM) Elvieda Sariwati on Thursday, November 4, said the lifestyle shift causing less physical activities worsened by increased sugar consumption will indeed increase the risk of obesity. 

“To be honest, the pandemic made people less active, often order takeaway foods online, and choose to consume food with high sugar and fat,” said Sariwati in an online Nutrifood discussion on beating obesity on November 4. 

She said there remains to be in-depth research relating the lifestyle shift with obesity and how many are suffering from it. However, a study in 2018 found that obesity among adults in Indonesia increased to 21.8 percent, and overweight prevalence among adults grew to 13.6 percent from 11.5 percent in 2013. 

“There is prediabetic and diabetic, where nearly 90 percent of people with type 2 diabetes would suffer from weight issues,” she said.

Sariwati reminded people to implement a healthier lifestyle by consuming healthier foods, fruits and vegetables, and not to smoke tobacco or consume alcoholic beverages. She also called for people to exercise routinely, get enough rest, and manage stress levels, as the pandemic is still ongoing. 

Read: 5 Daily Habits That Lead to Obesity

RINI KUSTIANI