Speaking at the World Obesity Day 2026 talk show here on Thursday, he said obesity is closely linked to health indicators such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels; therefore, maintaining an ideal body weight is essential to increasing life expectancy.
To achieve this, the ministry is intensifying public education through nutritional labeling, or "Nutri-level."
“One of them is eating habits. We must educate people on how to eat properly. However, if the education is too scientific, such as calculating calories, it will confuse people. The easiest way is to use red, yellow, and green indicators. That is the simplest approach,” he remarked.
He noted that Nutri-level has now started to be implemented in various places to make it easier for the public to understand.
The ministry is also collaborating with health influencers, such as Dr. Gia Pratama, to expand public education efforts as widely as possible.
In addition to regulating eating patterns, physical activity must also be increased, he said. Exercise can reduce cortisol levels and increase endorphins. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, people should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
“We run together to build awareness that running is cool, trendy, and the cheapest form of exercise,” he remarked.
At the same event, Danish Ambassador to Indonesia Sten Frimodt Nielsen said obesity is becoming an increasingly real global challenge. Addressing it requires strong public leadership, active participation from the health sector, and public awareness, he pointed out.
He also highlighted the need to eliminate stigma surrounding obesity through proper education and support.
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Translator: Mecca, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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