Brunei to launch survey on eating habits nationwide

Brunei is expected to launch a survey on eating habits nationwide soon in a bid to formulate the country's strategic plans on health and food consumption.

This will be the second time that the sultanate to launch its National Health and Nutritional Status Survey, according to the Borneo Bulletin on Tuesday.

The survey aims to identify the public's eating habits, food intake and health status, and gather information which will be used to formulate the country's strategic plans on health and food intake.

The survey will be conducted until the year 2011.In some researches conducted in the mid 1990s, obesity remained one of the concerns in the country. About 8.7 percent to 17.8 percent of schoolchildren were found to be obese, while 11.2 percent of men and 12.8 percent of women were obese.

The researches also showed that 36 percent of men, aged between20 and 39, were smokers, and 11 percent had high-blood pressure. 　

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Many toothpastes have low fluoride content

Some toothpastes sold in Brunei are ineffective in preventing dental cavities due to their low level of fluoride and may even be harmful to health as they contain toxic substances, according to a study carried out by an established professor in 2008.

Many of the 22 toothpastes sold in Brunei, failed tests on effectiveness to provide dental protection due to their lower levels of fluoride, said Professor Dr Willem Van Palenstein Helderman yesterday.

The consultant from the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam was speaking during a presentation on the "Overview of Fluoride Toothpaste — Global, Regional and Brunei Darussalam Perspectives" at the Health Promotion Centre in Berakas.

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