BY James Kon

A new set of guidelines to encourage physical activity in the country was launched by the Ministry of Health at a ceremony at Grand Cesar Hall, Hotel Mulia. on Tuesday morning.

The second edition of the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Brunei Darussalam (NPAG) seeks to address the leading causes of death in Brunei Darussalam – heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke – by reducing sedentary behaviour, defined as the lack of physical activity.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar was the guest of honour.

The NPAG contains several new recommendations and advantages for increasing physical activity and the side effects of sedentary behaviour.

The guidelines also prescribe the level and duration of physical activity for different age groups, including children under five.

According to the NPAG, a sedentary lifestyle includes excessive screen time on electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, televisions or electronic games, and can affect the health of children and adolescents.

A new section of the guidelines also outlines safety tips for doing physical activity during the month of Ramadhan.

The NPAG can be used by health professionals in hospitals and clinics to advise patients, especially those involved in the management of non-communicable diseases and its risk factors.

These guidelines can also be used by instructors at all levels of education and at gyms, sports clubs, fitness centres and other organisations.

In addition, it can also be used to increase people’s understanding of physical activity and sedentary lifestyles through social media marketing, health campaigns and the BruHealth app.

It is hoped that various stakeholder sectors, organisations and communities will work together and support these guidelines to encourage all levels of society including children, adolescents, youth, adults, women, the elderly and the disabled – to be more physically active.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin