With an extraordinarily large population, it turned out that physical activity has actually decreased. In 2013, some 26.1 percent of our population lacked physical activity, but in 2018, it increased to 33.5 percentJakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture pressed for continued public awareness for maintaining and improving health.
"With an extraordinarily large population, it turned out that physical activity has actually decreased. In 2013, some 26.1 percent of our population lacked physical activity, but in 2018, it increased to 33.5 percent," the ministry's Deputy for Coordination for Health Quality Improvement and Development Agus Suprapto said during a webinar on Wednesday.
The number of those over five years that consumed less fruits also increased, from 93.5 percent in 2013 to 95.5 percent in 2018.
Meanwhile, the rate of the population, aged over 18 and obese, rose, from 14.8 percent in 2013 to 21.8 percent in 2018. People, who are obese, have an abdominal circumference of more than 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women, Suprapto noted.
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"In addition, the proportion of the population that consumed excess sugar is still 4.8 percent; sodium or salt, 18.3 percent; and fat, 26.5 percent. Actually, the government is keen to regulate the intake of sugar, salt, and fat with the related industry, but several obstacles had to be tackled first," he added.
From 1997 to 2017, life expectancy among Indonesians actually continued to increase, by reaching an average of 71.48 years. However, the productive age of Indonesian people reduced between 8 and 10 years due to illness caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.
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"One of the factors that causes death or interferes with our lifespan is high blood pressure," he explained.
Hence, public awareness should be increased to maintain health by reducing the consumption of salt, sugar, and fat. Likewise, cigarette smoking should be reduced to lower the risk of lung and heart disease, Suprapto emphasized.
"Actually, we are always striving to increase our lifespan, but efforts to extend life expectancy are always cut off by factors, such as lethargy to move and intake of unhealthy food," he concluded.
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Translator: Sanya Dinda S, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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