Taipei (ANTARA News/CNA) - Taipei City launched an online trial map of healthy restaurants and sports centers Monday as part of it efforts to help residents lose weight and live more health lifestyles.

The data, which uses the Google Maps application, features healthy dining in three Taipei City districts -- Daan, Datong, and Neihu -- and exercise centers in seven areas -- Daan, Datong, Neihu, Xinyi, Zhongshan, Zhongzheng, and Beitou.

"Many people want to keep fit, but don`t have a clue where to start, " said Huang Chiu-yu, deputy division chief of the Health Promotion Division of the city`s Department of Health.

According to Huang, 39.2 percent of Taipei City residents over the age of 18 are overweight.

As part of its efforts to encourage more healthy living, the city`s health department began last November to update Google Maps` information on local restaurants that serve nutritious meals and on popular exercise venues, she said.

The map includes nutritional tips, photos and calorie counts on dishes, restaurant contact numbers and information on opening hours, Huang said.

"We have specialists who do onsite visits on a regular basis to check out the shops," she added.

The maps of the exercise centers list fees, location and the types of activities available at each one, she said.

The department will continue to monitor the number of hits on the site to determine whether expansion is warranted, she said.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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