18% of Singapore children lead consistently unhealthy lifestyles: Study

A study has found that nearly one in five children in Singapore are leading consistently unhealthy lifestyles. This means they are three times more likely to get pre-hypertension and higher diastolic blood pressure. The 'Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes' (GUSTO) study, tracked 546 children across three milestones -- at ages two, five and eight -- and their lifestyle patterns. Children in the consistently unhealthy group were less active, had higher screen time, ate fewer fruits and vegetables, but loved ultra-processed food. Senior Research Fellow Chia Airu and Associate Professor Mary Chong from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health discussed the findings.