HEALTHY lifestyle is catching up in the Sultanate with more people taking up measures to reduce their weight.

Last year, some 86.7 per cent of the participants enrolled in the Healthy Lifestyle Clinic programme were successful in reducing their BMI (body mass index), while 33.1 per cent achieved their targeted reduction rate of five to 10 per cent in 10 weeks.

This was disclosed yesterday at the Health Promotion Centre (HPC) as it launched its first cohort for the 2011 Healthy Lifestyle Clinic during a small ceremony at the Atrium in HPC.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Health (MoH) about the comprehensive health screening programme for the public and six ministries earlier last year, rates for being overweight and obesity were 38.6 per cent and 25.7 per cent respectively.

In a press advisory issued by the MoH, among the factors that contribute to the problem is "the lack of a healthy lifestyle such as not doing physical activity and (not having) a balanced food intake".

In an interview with The Brunei Times, programme participant Hjh Fatimah Md Daud said the programme is "really useful because it has helped me reduce weight, lower cholesterol and sugar levels".

At the launching of the first cohort for 2011, certificates and prizes were presented to the two participants from 2010 who reduced their BMI the most.

Taking first place was Dk Siti Nor Pg Hj Ismail who lowered 11.5kg in 10 weeks from her original 73.1kg. The second place went to Norhayati Abdul Wahab who lost some 10.1kg in 10 weeks from her original 97.5kg.

-- The Brunei Times/Asia News Network