HPB campaign encourages kids to 'drink water rather than sugary soda'

Schools pitch message to kids in bid to fight rise of obesity-linked diabetes

Children are being encouraged to drink water rather than sugary sodas in a new campaign launched in schools to battle the alarming rise among the young of diabetes linked to obesity.

About half of child and teenage diabetics here have Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to diet and lifestyle, up from 10 per cent in 1999.

This is a cause for concern, said Mr Ang Hak Seng, chief executive officer of the Health Promotion Board, which is leading the campaign.

The Diabetic Society of Singapore (DSS) estimated in 2007 that 600 children and teenagers here have diabetes. No other more recent figures are available.