| James Kon |
THIRTY per cent of children (one in three) in Brunei Darussalam are obese, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The figure is alarming because studies have shown that individuals suffering from childhood obesity have a higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases like cancer, stroke and diabetes later in life.
A lot of these children are obese due to insufficient shepherding of their dietary habits when they were younger. An innocent cone of ice cream or two a day to put the smile back on your sulking toddler’s face can quickly cause them to develop unhealthy cravings for fattening, sugary foods.
Because of this, parents and guardians play an influential role in shaping their children’s eating habits and preventing them from becoming obese.
The same can be said of teachers, the next most important guiding lights for children beyond the confines of home.
Besides the usual academic matters, teachers can play a huge role in influencing their students to practise healthy eating and thus stave off obesity.
This role was highlighted by a Lecturer in Public Health at the PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Dr Nik AA Tuah in her remarks at the opening of the ‘Japanese Cooking Class For Teachers’ workshop held at Sayyidina Hussain Secondary School.
Held in collaboration with Kagawa University, Japan; Sayyidina Hussein Secondary School as well as UBD’s Centre for Advanced Research (CARe) and Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), the workshop aims to transfer to the participants basic knowledge on healthy cooking techniques and nutrition education in a fun way.
Participating in the workshop are science subject teachers from primary schools and teachers of food and nutrition subjects from secondary schools in Brunei Darussalam.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have gained familiarity on innovative food nutrition pedagogy – including health and other associated issues – as well as learn how to prepare healthy food specially tailored for primary and secondary school students.
“It is a great honour for us to be part of this collaboration which aims to bring healthy eating and living to the school community. To all teachers and participants, please use this opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills,” said Sayyidina Hussain Secondary School’s Principal Dayangku Hajah Nooramaliatifah binti Pengiran Haji Ahmad in her address.
The workshop, which was divided into focus group discussions and cooking classes, also shared with participants the system of healthy eating adopted for children from early childhood right up to the high school level within Kagawa Prefecture.
Present at the workshop were Professor Yumiko Takagi, Faculty of Education Kagawa University; Yukako Uemura, a lecturer at Kagawa University International Office, Kagawa University; and Kaoru Ikeshita, a teacher of Home Economics, Attachment School of Faculty of Education, Kagawa University.
Attending and representing UBD at the workshop were Lecturer in Science Education of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE) UBD Dr Marlizayati binti Johari, Lecturer in Biomedical, PAPRSB IHS Dr Suwarni Md Diah, a student at the PAPRSB IHS Nurul Aqilah Md Zain and Manager at CARe Susilawatiniah binti Haji Ibrahim @ Susi Ibrahim.