In an effort to combat the growing prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwan, the Health Promotion Administration and the Taiwan Millennium Health Foundation announced a new initiative on Tuesday.
The campaign runs from August 7 to 23 and will distribute 500,000 free measuring tapes through convenience stores and drugstores. It encourages citizens to monitor and record their waistline measurements in the National Health Insurance Administration’s (NHIA) app using My Health Bank. Participants can also enter a draw to win prizes with a value of up to NT $10,000 (about US$306).
Metabolic syndrome consists of five risk factors, including high blood pressure, excessive waist circumference, and insufficient good cholesterol. According to statistics, it affects around 40% of men and 30% of women in Taiwan with a high prevalence among individuals aged 65 to 74.
Institute of Population Health Sciences researcher Dr. Chung Ren-hua (鍾仁華), emphasizes the severity of the issue, noting that metabolic syndrome doubles the risk of stroke and heart disease, quadruples the risk of high blood pressure, and increases the risk of diabetes sixfold.
NHIA Director-General Shih Chung-Liang (石崇良) encourages the public to build a habit of regular health tracking. Those diagnosed with metabolic syndrome through the app can seek treatment at designated clinics and control their risk factors early on.