Health Minister Highlights Widespread Obesity in Indonesia, Making Citizens Prone to Premature Death
Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has once again addressed the issue of obesity in the country. Obesity is closely linked to high blood pressure and cholesterol, which can trigger serious diseases leading to premature death.
Budi made these remarks while attending a health campaign on obesity with Denmark’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Sten Frimodt Nielsen, on World Obesity Day 2026, Thursday (7/5/2026). In his speech, Budi compared the average life expectancy of Indonesians with that of Denmark, which he noted is longer due to healthier lifestyles.
“Denmark’s average life expectancy is 82-83 years. Indonesia’s is 70-73 years. So there’s a 10-year gap,” Budi said at the event themed “Obesity Disease Awareness Event: Lightening Hopes”.
Budi stated that one of the main reasons Indonesians are more susceptible to diseases is weight issues and unhealthy lifestyles. He openly addressed waist circumference and body mass index (BMI).
“For men, waist circumference should be under 90 cm, for women under 80 cm. This isn’t about physique, but about health,” he said.
Budi explained that obesity is closely related to blood sugar, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. Therefore, he urged the public to start changing their eating habits and become more active if they want to live longer.
On that occasion, Budi also promoted the government’s “Nutri-Level” nutrition labelling programme, which is being implemented to help the public understand the sugar, salt, and fat content in food and drinks.
“If you buy the A ones only, not the D. We must make healthy living a movement, not just a government programme,” he said.
He also gave an example of coffee drinks that are now starting to receive health labels in some coffee outlets. “For instance, matcha coffee is D. Americano is A. Zero calories, you look very cool,” Budi said jokingly.
Besides food, the Health Minister also highlighted the importance of regular exercise. He said he wants to make exercise a lifestyle that is considered cool by the public, especially the younger generation. Budi even revealed his plan to participate in the Jakarta Marathon while accompanying a visually impaired person.
“I want to run 21 km with a blind person. So it can motivate young people who are still overweight. Even blind people run, why can’t we who are healthy run,” he said.
According to him, simple exercises like running, badminton, or padel can help reduce obesity if done regularly for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, in line with WHO guidelines.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Ambassador Sten Frimodt Nielsen said obesity has now become a global challenge, including in Indonesia and Denmark. He viewed obesity not merely as an appearance issue, but as a complex health condition influenced by lifestyle, environment, and mental health.
“Strengthening healthy habits can differ at every moment. Whether through better nutrition, regular physical activity, or daily choices? And sometimes, it’s really about small steps. Small changes in daily routines, small increases in awareness, small actions that, when combined, create a much greater impact,” Sten said.