The rise in non-communicable diseases is worrisome, and the best way to prevent it is by practising a healthy lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle in current times is becoming ever more critical, not just for the younger and growing populace but also for the elderly.
To bring people together and encourage healthy habits and practices, the Asia HRTF (Health, Relationship, Technology & Finances) Online Association launched the ‘Go For 100 Years Old’ online health group to share thoughts and ideas on healthy living age well towards 100 years.
A well-timed movement
Former Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Sri Liow Tiong Lai was guest-of-honour at the ‘Go For 100 Years Old’ health group.
“We need a group of people who will encourage each other. It is difficult to make healthy choices and practice good habits,” he said when launching the group.
The rise in non-communicable diseases in recent years is worrisome. The best way to prevent it is by practising a healthy lifestyle.
He also noted that with the pandemic hitting the world badly, the healthcare systems were overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases and unable to fully respond to other health issues.
“So, the people share the responsibility to maintain their own health. We need to act before it’s too late. A healthy lifestyle is a way of life and is your responsibility.
“So, it is time for this ‘Go for 100 Years Old’ initiative to get all of us working together as a group. We can encourage each other and put knowledge into action and make it a good habit to practice a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
The event, held via Zoom on June 24, was organised by The Asia HR TF Online Association and attended by over 100 participants from seven countries.
Go For 100 Years Old Health Group
The health group will mostly be online to provide a platform for its members to exchange information and ideas on living healthily.
As such, the initiative involves forming a core health group of 12 to 15 members on Whatsapp.
“Each group will have three to five co-leaders to lead and support the members to live a healthy lifestyle and habits. It could lead to achieving living healthily till 100-years-old,” said Clement Heng, co-founder of the ‘Go For 100-Year-Old’ health group.
“We want to encourage everyone, especially the senior citizens, to think big in terms of their health. And through this platform, we will be able to exchange information among the members on healthy habits and lifestyles.
“Eventually, each member is encouraged to grow organically and form their own core group of 12 to 15 members within Asia.”
Those interested in joining the “Go For 100 YO” health group can visit the Go For 100 YO Health Group official Facebook page or email admin@AsiaHRTF.org.
Guiding principles
While many may agree on the importance of living active and healthy, most fail to practice them.
Heng noted that while there was no shortness of health information and awareness, the public failed to make the right choices and not practice a better healthy lifestyle.
“We need to make sure that we take action consistently and habitually. So, we have three principles guiding us towards achieving practising healthy choice consistently.”
He shared that the first principle was living healthily with good habits by following the holistic D’SWEETS formula.
D’SWEETS stands for; Healthy Diet; Sound Sleep; Drink Plenty of Water, Regular Exercise; Stable Emotion; Removal and Avoiding Toxin; and Intake of Supplements.
“The following principle is taking action. Awareness of health is useless until and unless we have decided to improve our health as our habits.
“So, each member is required to help and encourage each other to make and maintain healthy lifestyle choices until it reaches a habitual level.
“And the final principle is to try living healthily as humanly as possible and leave the rest to God.”
Sharing health information
The launch kicked off two health webinar sessions on health enhancement and human science.
The first webinar discussing health enhancement featured speakers Angela Hancock, a health and wellness coach and Ravinder Singh, the president and co-founder of Malaysia Tower Running Association.
The second webinar on human sciences featured speakers Thirunakaran Padmanathan, an internationally certified yoga instructor, and Dr Andrew Chiew, a reversing diabetes specialist.
Going forward, the Go For 100 Years Old Health Group Facebook page will actively feature articles, webinars and discussions on healthy and active lifestyle topics. Members are encouraged to share and exchange health-related information. — The Health
