FrieslandCampina Asia partners on Singapore program
Nurture Kids is the first health, nutrition and exercise program designed specifically for preschool children between the ages of 4 and 6.
Children will be taught movement skills and given tips on how to live an active and healthy lifestyle.
Pilot program
Nurture Kids is currently being piloted at eight preschools, which have volunteered to incorporate the program into their curriculum.
Nutritionists have also been engaged to teach children to ‘eat smart’ through specially designed workshops meant to impart the importance of good and balanced nutrition.
An assessment will be undertaken after 10 weeks to evaluate the outcomes from and effectiveness of the program.
Lai Chin Kwang, chief, ActiveSG, said he hoped that teaching children from a young age about healthy living will create a lifelong habit to stay active and healthy.
Economic cost
ActiveSG said the program with FrieslandCampina has been developed in response to the growing trend of childhood obesity in Singapore. It says studies in the country show about 10% of children aged 5 are overweight, while 43% of obese children are likely to stay obese as adults.
It also noted obesity has an impact not only on health but also on the economy. ActiveSG said obesity issues cost Singapore S$2.77bn (US$2.03bn), or 14% of gross domestic product, in healthcare spending and productivity loss in 2016.
Hendro Poedjono, corporate affairs director, FrieslandCampina Asia, said there is an urgent need to address the state of health among young children in Singapore.
“To foster better health behavior, we need to engage parents, educators, the government and the community. This is why FrieslandCampina Asia is spearheading Nurture Kids together with ActiveSG,” Poedjono said.
He added Nurture Kids can make a direct and lasting impact on the development of Singapore’s young, by providing skills and knowledge for a healthy start in life.
