More Than 100,000 Year Six Students Nationwide Are Obese And Overweight

Earlier this week, Year Six students nationwide had to prepare themselves for a different kind of report for their Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) results.

The newly introduced Primary School Assessment Report (PPSR) now covers UPSR, classroom assessment, psychometric assessment, as well as physical activity, sports and co-curricular assessment.

After a long and excruciating wait for the Year Six students, the results were finally released on Thursday.

However, the physical component of the report revealed an alarming statistic – more than 100,000 Year Six students nationwide are revealed to be obese or overweight!

To be more specific, the Physical Fitness Standard (SEGAK) and Body Mass Index (BMI) tests showed that 58,294 (13.8 per cent) students were obese, while another 56,584 (13.4 per cent) were overweight.

School should not be just about academic excellence.

All those late night snacking and stress eating while burning the midnight oil is not worth it, no matter the age!

Following this alarming revelation, Education director general Datuk Dr Amin Senin urged all relevant parties to come together to tackle the issue because it is not just the school or parents’ problem, as reported by New Straits Times.

We need to collectively encourage the younger generation to pay close attention to their physical wellbeing.

With the introduction of the Physical Activities, Sports and Co-curricular Assessment (PAJSK), SEGAK and BMI components, it is also important for government ministries and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to help draw up practical methods to create a healthier society, especially among the younger generation.

Parents, we don't mean that you should start thinking of diet plans and insane sports activities for your kids. But just pay a little more attention to their physical activities and eating patterns, it will definitely go a long way.

Meanwhile, on a lighter note, 268,314 (63.4 per cent) students recorded normal BMI, whereas 40,347 (9.5 per cent) students were underweight.