Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta provincial government has launched the “Jakstar” program to help prevent non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, among adolescents.“We will begin the program in several pilot high schools in Jakarta. It is called Jakstar because these young individuals are the stars we hope will lead healthy lifestyles in the future,” said Deputy Head of the Jakarta Health Service, Dwi Oktavia, on Monday.
The program targets high school students using an interactive and modern approach based on gamification. Through the initiative, students will be encouraged to adopt healthy habits—such as regular exercise and balanced nutrition—while earning points for each healthy action they complete.
“We’re implementing a gamification strategy. If students engage in healthy activities, they will earn points that can be accumulated and exchanged for prizes,” Oktavia explained.
She expressed hope that Jakstar would help reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases in Jakarta and contribute to building a healthier generation.
Oktavia also pointed to lifestyle changes as a key factor in the growing threat of diabetes mellitus among younger populations. She noted that while diabetes was once more common in older adults, today it increasingly affects people in their 30s and 40s.
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“The lifestyle of today’s youth is becoming more sedentary,” she said, adding that physical inactivity combined with diets high in sugar, salt, and fat significantly raises the risk of chronic illness.
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According to a health screening conducted by the Jakarta Health Service in 2024, 62.09 percent of the city's civil servants (ASN) were found to be obese. The screening involved 9,936 civil servants and included measurements of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, physical fitness, blood sugar levels, and mental health evaluations.
Of those assessed, 40.03 percent fell into the Obesity I category, while 22.06 percent were classified as Obesity II.
