Hospital deaths fell to 59.8% in 2024, from 62.5% in 2022 and 2023: MOH
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Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
'Why isn't Singapore getting fat like the West—what's the secret sauce?'
SINGAPORE: When one Reddit user asked, 'Why is Singapore not as fat as the West? What can America and Canada learn from Singapore about obesity?'—it triggered an animated conversation between netizens bursting with cultural perceptions, personal narratives, and some tough realities. The ensuing discussion depicted a nuanced picture of why Singapore continues to have relatively lower obesity rates, even as it is confronted with its mounting health challenges. A tale of two food cultures One of the most recurring comparisons was food—and not just what's consumed but also how food is served, priced, and perceived. A commenter who had resided in both Singapore and the U.S. cited sharp differences: 'In the US, food is way too sugary. Portion size is huge; people drive a lot and don't walk as much. Being fat is normalised. Groceries for healthy food are extremely expensive. US$1.50 for ONE apple, US$5 for ONE peach?! C'mon.' The user compared this with Singapore, where food helpings are often a third of what's being served in the U.S. and where basic foodstuffs are inexpensive for most: 'In SG, a lot of people cook at home. The government ensures staple foods remain affordable. Even unhealthy food, like McDonald's, is taxed to discourage overconsumption.' Government intervention isn't unintentional. Singapore's food pricing guidelines are meant to promote national health, guaranteeing that better options remain available and affordable while less nourishing fast food gets pushed into a luxury category via high prices. The subtle role of social pressure Another aspect of the conversation is culture, and not in ways expected. 'They do not have Chinese New Year where aunties publicly fat shame you annually to keep you in check,' one user jested. While fat-shaming is contentious in the West, in Singapore, straight and blunt remarks about someone's weight are usually said without using diplomatic language. Although not always helpful, it does mirror a societal mentality where obesity is not standardised or disregarded. While social pressure alone isn't an approach for public health, it expresses how cultural expectations can mould personal behaviours. Fit by design Singapore doesn't leave fitness up to luck, either. One user mentioned how physical activity is integrated into the national routine, beginning from a young age: See also The Fight Against Sugar 'From 10 to 18, everyone has to pass an annual fitness test. There's a national habit of exercise that sticks with people.' That propensity toward civic fitness doesn't end in youth. Singapore has financed several healthy ageing programmes. Seniors get rebates for fitness-related activities and are even offered enticements like grocery coupons for hitting daily step goals. Add to that the obligatory military service for young men, and a robust public crusade against diabetes and heart disease, and it's clear — Singapore views health as a national priority. Still, not every Redditor pictured Singapore as a Shangri-La. One netizen comment rang out: 'Singapore is pretty fat compared to other Asian countries. The obesity rate has been steadily increasing.' Undeniably, Singapore's Ministry of Health has documented growing obesity and associated conditions like diabetes, instigating the country's hands-on strategies. While not all of Singapore's approaches would render gracefully to Western cultures, particularly the blunt social feedback, there's no denying the effect of shrewd policy, cultural uniformity, and national pledge to well-being.
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
A mother endured harrowing hallucinations due to postpartum psychosis – and says it was worth it for her child
Rainie Ang always knew she wanted to be a mother. She just never expected her motherhood journey to start so traumatically. Married at the age of 31, Ang took two years to conceive, undergoing fertility tests, using ovulation kits and taking Traditional Chinese Medicine. In September 2024, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. 'I was overjoyed. I spent my days in hospital cuddling with him and watching him having hiccups,' she smiled. These tender beginnings were abruptly hijacked. After discharge, Ang quickly fell into a babycare and breastmilk-pumping routine. Unable to fall back to sleep, she clocked one to two hours of shuteye each night. Then, on the sixth day after giving birth, her world started to unravel. 'I felt like I was living outside of reality, in another dimension. It was as if this world that I'm living in is not real,' she told CNA Women. Once a happy-go-lucky person, she suddenly struggled to even make the most basic decisions, such as what time to bathe and how to have her confinement meals. 'I was having fishball beehoon and was given a fork-spoon, and chopsticks. I couldn't even make a decision on which one to use. I felt very confused,' she said. She asked her best friend – also a mum – if she had experienced anything similar. She hadn't. She told her mother-in-law about it and was advised to get more rest. But Ang simply couldn't. 'No matter how tired I was, I couldn't sleep at all,' she said. In this disoriented state, she continued her babycare routine the next day. 'I had zero supply of breast milk, but I had been educated that breast milk is better for the baby. So I was pumping every three hours. That afternoon, I pumped for 30 minutes and set a pretty high intensity because I wanted to try my best to produce something,' she recalled. The next thing Ang remembered, she was crying and screaming uncontrollably. 'I can't remember why I was screaming. But I remember I had some delusions. I thought that I couldn't see my husband and baby again because I was locked in the bedroom. I was screaming my husband's name and his phone number,' she recalled. Her husband, mother-in-law, father and sister tried to calm her down, but Ang did not stop screaming until the ambulance arrived an hour later. Ang had had a full-blown episode of postpartum psychosis, a rare but severe mental condition that can emerge shortly after childbirth. "I THOUGHT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO END" At that time, Ang and her family had not even heard of postpartum psychosis, which is a rare mental condition. Her father thought she was exhausted and overwhelmed by motherhood. While accompanying her to hospital in the ambulance, he urged her to engage a helper. UNDERSTANDING POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS Insights from Dr Anne-Marie Simons, consultant at the Institute of Mental Health. Postpartum psychosis is a severe form of mental illness that begins suddenly in the days and weeks after having a baby. Symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, mania or severe confusion. It affects approximately one to two mothers per 1,000 births. While the exact cause is unknown, hormonal fluctuations and sleep deprivation are likely to be contributing factors. Some women who have postpartum psychosis have no previous history of mental illness. However, women who have a history of bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder, those who have had a previous episode of postpartum psychosis, or those with a close relative with postpartum psychosis are at higher risk for developing the condition. Timely treatment is crucial because the postpartum psychosis can progress rapidly over the course of hours or days, risking the health and the safety of both mother and baby. Patients require psychotropic medication, and in some cases, inpatient psychiatric care for close monitoring. With treatment, they usually make a full recovery in six to 12 months – longer in some cases. Note that postpartum psychosis should not be confused with postpartum depression, which is a serious mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth, and involves intense sadness, anxiety and tiredness. I was in disbelief that I was at IMH. 'They inserted a thick needle into my spine to extract eight bottles of liquid from my bone marrow to test for infection. It was very painful. Because they were not able to sedate me for this procedure, I was struggling. The nurses had to pin me down,' she recalled. Subsequently, Ang was sedated for further tests. Awake but immobile, she was pushed into the magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) machine. 'I thought I was dead and I was in the incinerator. It was very scary,' she said. She awoke from this traumatic experience to find herself in a psychiatric ward at the general hospital. The blinds were drawn and she didn't know if it was morning or night. There, she stayed for a week, awaiting test results and grappling with ominous hallucinations. 'During the day, my husband, father and sister would visit me without fail, so my hallucinations were not so bad. But at night when there weren't any visitors and everything was quiet, the hallucinations were really bad. 'I saw black figures queuing up to enter the ward. I was afraid and asked the nurses who these people were,' she said. 'I also heard construction noise and car accidents, and thought the world was going to end.' 'There was a particular episode where I hallucinated that I gave birth to a baby girl. I saw myself delivering her. It felt very real to me. I thought that the nurses took away my baby, and asked them where my baby was,' she added. Some nights, Ang would simply lie awake, crying. FINDING HER WAY BACK TO REALITY Because doctors at the general hospital could not find any infection, Ang was transferred back to IMH a week later. She continued to hallucinate on her first night at IMH. 'I roomed with 20-plus patients and thought the other patients were toys,' she recalled. But after doctors adjusted her medication, she stopped hallucinating from the second day. She continued to have delusions of grandeur during her stay, however, imagining that she was held at IMH because she was a very important figure. Aside from that, Ang described her final two weeks of hospitalisation as 'uneventful'. She spent most of her time colouring, folding origami and making thousands of paper stars. Throughout her hospitalisation, the new mother was separated from her baby and missed him dearly. 'I just wanted to get well and just get home to see my baby,' she said. Finally, after three weeks of hospitalisation, Ang was discharged on Oct 7, 2024. She returned home just in time for a photo shoot she had previously arranged for her son. Rushing from a psychiatric hospital to a photo shoot was a surreal experience. 'I bathed, put on makeup and the photographer arrived one hour later,' she said, adding that the photographer explained that they could not wait any longer if they wanted to capture a newborn photo of her son. The photo shoot went well. Ang was also ecstatic to be home and reunited with her baby. 'I felt as if I had been given a second chance to live in reality,' she said. With mood stabilisers prescribed by her doctor, Ang's life has since returned to normal. Not wanting to dwell on her ordeal, she threw herself back into work almost immediately. She also cherishes motherhood like never before. Everyday activities like feeding her son, who is now 10 months old, changing his diaper and playing with him feel like a hard-fought victory. Having found her feet again, Ang told CNA Women she decided to share her story to raise awareness for postpartum psychosis and mental illness, so others don't feel alone in their journey. Asked if she has any regrets giving birth to her son, the doting mother replied without hesitation: 'No, I would go through the whole psychosis again to bring my son to this world. Because he is so precious.'
CNA
9 hours ago
- CNA
Playrooms, vitamins and training: Why some Singaporeans are spending thousands on pet birds
SINGAPORE: Six years ago, Ms Resse Tan bought her first pet bird – a lovebird named Luna – from a private breeder for S$90 (US$66). She did not expect the purchase would mark the beginning of her journey as a rescuer and fosterer of pet birds. 'As you can see, my house is a giant bird cage,' she told CNA. Her windows and main door are meshed, and perches are placed throughout her home, allowing birds to land freely. Initially, she housed Luna and her second lovebird Rio in cages in her study. But as more birds joined her household, she gave them the space as a playroom and relocated her work area to the living room. Ms Tan, 44, represents a growing community of bird owners in Singapore prioritising their pets' welfare. Once dominated by songbird enthusiasts who brought caged birds to community corners, bird-keeping in Singapore is now increasingly defined by the popularity of parrots – especially lovebirds, favoured for their small size and affordability. Owners are also becoming more educated about bird nutrition. Seed-heavy diets, once common, are now discouraged due to associated health risks such as obesity and liver problems, said Ms Annie Phoong, who runs two Facebook groups for bird owners. She said such diets are especially problematic for birds lacking space to fly. 'It's best to give them something more (nutritious) and not fattening,' Ms Phoong added. She spends about S$700 a month on vitamin supplements for her own 20 birds. Ms Maybelline Tan, 36, the president of Parrot Society (Singapore), feeds her parrots a mix of pellets, grains, fruits and vegetables. 'Having seeds is almost like giving a kid potato chips and chocolate all the time," said Ms Tan, who works as a marketing manager. 'Parrots need a wide variety of food in order to be healthy, because they need the vitamins and all that.' INVESTING IN HEALTH AND ENRICHMENT Bird owners are also increasingly willing to invest in veterinary care. Dr Neo Peici of Sora Vets said a vet visit can cost more than a lovebird, but owners are still prepared to pay. "The owners are willing to spend this amount of money to make sure that the bird actually lives a fulfilling life," she said. In the past, owners were content for their pet birds to live two to three years before replacing them. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted that mindset when owners started spending more time with their pets, said Dr Neo. "They realised that hey, (the birds) actually know a lot more things than we think they know." Ms Resse Tan, for example, once spent over S$1,000 on a hormone implant for Luna, who had become exhausted laying excessive eggs. The implant was meant to last up to 18 months but wore off in three months. Parrots have their own personalities and attitudes, said Ms Tan, a UX designer at DBS. She used to bring Luna along to office or work meetings where possible, and the bird would "blindly follow". 'Now she's an adult already, she doesn't really want to follow me. I have to ask permission, if she wants to come, she will come to my finger.' Dr Neo said some bird owners are spending thousands on larger species, which has driven interest in proper care. "People are more into the larger birds, the macaws and things like that," she said. "I guess when you invest in a S$5,000 bird, you would want to know more and see how you can better enrich its life." OUTDOOR FLIGHTS, INDOOR PLAYROOMS Ms Joanne Khoo, who owns macaws and helps manage the Wings Of Parrots Community Facebook page, said there is a growing passion for parrots. Members of the group meet weekly at Marina East Park to let their pets fly freely. At home, she hangs toys on perches for her five birds, which include macaws, Amazon parrots and major mitchell cockatoos. Her flat is too small for them to fly in, so outdoor exercise is vital. "We realise the need to fly our birds because they need to exercise, have a more holistic life," said Ms Khoo, who is married with three sons. Ms Maybelline Tan, on the other hand, focuses on indoor enrichment. Her two lovebirds, two Indian ringneck parakeets and two green-cheeked conures are too small to wear GPS trackers and not suited for free flying. She also finds outdoor flying controversial due to predators and limited safe landing spots. Indoors, she lets her birds out for about an hour each morning and evening to play on a bird tree bought from Chinese e-commerce site Taobao and customised by her and her husband, Mr Julien Mordret, 39. They replaced standard branches with varied perches to support foot health, and added DIY toys, soft wood, cuttlefish bone, toilet paper rolls, little ladders and bridges. 'We put dried flowers in these little bowls that we added around, and then we sprinkle seeds in them, so that they can go and search around the dried flowers and pick up the seeds,' said Ms Tan. Her birds prefer to work for their food instead of passive feeding, she said. 'They really love (foraging). In fact, it has become such a routine – so every time it's time for them to come out, they just zoom straight to the perch and start foraging.' She has trained her birds to follow commands, such as stepping onto a scale for weight checks, picking up hoops and even giving high-fives. MORE DEMANDING THAN DOGS Birds are often perceived as lower-maintenance pets, but parrot owners say otherwise. "When you want to have birds, you have to accept a few unpleasant things like poop, mess – their feathers and their food, they will fling out and go all over the place – and their screaming," said Ms Maybelline Tan. "I personally feel they're actually more high-maintenance than dogs or cats." Mr Mordret added that bonding with birds can feel transactional. "There is always food, incentive, play. But if one day you stop feeding them, stop playing with them, and you don't bother about them at all, then it's not guaranteed they will love you. A dog will always love you." Dr Neo said she finds birds less predictable than dogs. 'For my dogs, I'm happy to bring her out and meet kids, because I can read her, I know what to expect from her,' she said. 'I have seven birds at home – there's not one that I would trust completely.' That does not mean bird owners love their pets less. 'They tend to steal your heart,' said Ms Khoo. She never imagined she would own a macaw, but was "captured by the beauty" of the bird. Because macaws can live for over 50 years, she sees them as a legacy to be passed on to the next generation. "Just like Patek Philippe," she said, referencing the Swiss luxury watchmaker. "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation ... A parrot is equivalent to that."
