Singaporeans exercise more, cut sugar — but 95pc still consume too much salt, new govt data reveals

Hotpot is among the dishes highlighted in Singapore’s latest nutrition survey as relatively high in calories, fat and sodium. — File pic

By Malay Mail

First Published: Saturday, 03 Oct 2026 3:14 PM MYT

Last Modified: Saturday, 03 Oct 2026 3:16 PM MYT

SINGAPORE, Oct 3 — Nearly all adults in Singapore are consuming too much sodium, while average calorie and fat intake has also risen despite improvements in physical activity and sugar consumption, according to national health surveys released today.

Singapore-based media organisation CNA reported that 95 per cent of Singapore residents exceeded the recommended daily sodium limit of 2,000mg in 2025, up from 88 per cent in 2019.

Average daily sodium intake climbed from 3,480mg to 4,000mg over the same period — twice the recommended limit.

The findings, released by Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Promotion Board (HPB), also showed average calorie intake rising from 2,360 calories a day in 2019 to 2,460 in 2025.

More than half of residents, or 57 per cent, consumed more calories than their estimated energy needs.

Those aged 18 to 29 consumed the most, at an average of 2,655 calories a day, while adults aged 30 to 49 recorded the biggest increase, rising by 141 calories to 2,576.

Total fat intake also increased from 94g a day in 2019 to 103g in 2025, while saturated fat made up 35 per cent of overall fat consumption, above the recommended ceiling of 30 per cent.

The surveys pointed to more frequent eating out as one factor behind the rise.

Seven in 10 residents ate out at least once a day in 2025, compared with six in 10 in 2019, while those who ate out at least twice a day consumed more calories, saturated fat and sodium than less frequent diners.

An HPB analysis of 182 commonly eaten dishes also found calorie and sodium levels had risen in many meals.

A typical serving of chicken rice increased from 557 calories to 646, while nasi biryani rose from 970 to 1,310 calories.

Popular dishes such as mala xiang guo and tomato hotpot were also found to be larger in portion and relatively high in calories, fat and sodium.

Asked why calorie intake had increased, HPB said one possibility was that food operators facing higher costs had increased cheaper refined carbohydrates while cutting back on more expensive protein.

It stressed that this remained a hypothesis and had not been verified.

There were more encouraging findings elsewhere.

Daily sugar intake fell from 60g in 2018 to 48g in 2025, while the share of residents staying within the recommended limit rose from 61 per cent in 2019 to 79 per cent.

The proportion getting sufficient overall physical activity also increased from 84.7 per cent in 2024 to 87.3 per cent in 2025.

However, only 37.6 per cent did enough muscle-strengthening activity.

Health screening participation for chronic diseases and cancers also improved, with MOH and HPB saying the figures offered early signs that the Healthier SG programme was encouraging healthier behaviour and earlier disease detection.

“Having a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, managing stress and ceasing smoking all have a direct impact on reducing the risk of chronic diseases and other health risks,” the agencies said.

Singapore also plans to extend mandatory Nutri-Grade labelling and advertising restrictions beyond beverages by 2028 to cover major sources of sodium and saturated fat, including pre-packed salt, sauces, seasonings, instant noodles and cooking oil.