Most Singaporeans hit exercise targets but overload on sodium and calories: Survey
Exercise alone cannot offset poor diet, inadequate sleep, stress, or poorly controlled conditions such as diabetes.
Singaporeans are largely meeting exercise recommendations, with 87% of the population engaging in recommended physical activity levels. However, the 2025 National Nutrition Survey reveals concerning dietary habits. More than half of the population consumes excess calories, averaging 2,460 kcal per day, a significant increase from previous years.
In addition, over 95% of residents consume excessive sodium, averaging around 4,000mg daily, more than double the recommended limit. Health experts warn that while exercise is crucial for overall well-being, it cannot fully compensate for unhealthy diets. Donna Tan, a family physician, emphasizes that exercise alone is not a free pass to indulge in unhealthy food choices.
She advises her patients to be mindful of portion sizes and to avoid overeating after workouts. The Health Promotion Board highlights soupy dishes as a major contributor to high sodium intake, with some containing up to 4,000mg of sodium per serving. To help manage sodium consumption, experts recommend reducing the broth or omitting it from dishes like fish noodle soup.
The survey also reveals that while protein intake among older adults is generally adequate, many still fail to meet their daily protein requirement, putting them at risk of sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
