S'pore adults eating more sodium & calories: MOH & HPB surveys

Adults in Singapore are consuming more sodium and calories.

This is due to them eating out more often, according to findings from the National Population Health Survey by the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the National Nutrition Survey by the Health Promotion Board (HPB).

The findings were announced on Oct. 3 by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at the National Heart Week and World Heart Day event at Heartbeat@Bedok.

The health survey, conducted from August 2024 to July 2025, sought the responses of residents aged 18 to 74.

The nutrition survey, conducted from June to December 2025, polled residents aged 18 to 69.

Sodium consumption up

The nutrition survey found that 95 per cent of the Singapore residents surveyed have exceeded the daily recommended sodium intake limit.

It was 88 per cent in 2019.

The average daily sodium intake rose from 3,480mg in 2019 to 4,000mg in 2025.

4,000mg is double the daily recommended sodium limit.

Salt and sauces added during cooking are key sources of the increase.

The daily recommended sodium intake limit of 2,000mg is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt.

Ong said excessive sodium raises blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Mandatory Nutri-Grade labelling measures and advertising prohibitions will be extended to items such as salt, sauces, seasonings, instant noodles, and cooking oils, he added.

These products are the main contributors of sodium and saturated fat.

The labelling measures were initially scheduled to be introduced by mid-2027, but has been delayed to 2028.

This is to provide more time for businesses to reformulate their products, Ong said.

The median sodium content of some popular dishes served while eating out has gone up by about 10 per cent from 2023, it was discovered.

Intake of calories also up

The mean calorie intake has also risen.

It increased from 2,360kcal in 2019 to 2,460kcal in 2025.

Taking in 100 calories more than what the body needs daily could lead to around 5kg of weight gain a year, said Ong.

Weight gain increases the risk of obesity and heart disease, he noted.

The survey found that 57 per cent of the country’s population exceeded their daily recommended calorie intake after factoring in the energy needed for physical activity.

Eating out also up

According to the survey, seven in 10 reported eating out at least once a day.

This is up from six in 10 in 2019.

The frequency rose from eight times a week in 2019 to nine times a week in 2025.

Those who ate out two or more times a day consumed more calories, saturated fat, and sodium compared to those who ate out six times a week or less.

Sugar intake dropped

On the bright side, the National Nutrition Survey found that the daily total sugar intake had fallen from 60g in 2018 to 48g in 2025.

This is a drop of about 2.5 teaspoons of sugar daily, Ong noted.

"Our taste buds are changing, which is good," he said.

The percentage of respondents whose sugar consumption was within the daily recommended sugar limit went up from 61 per cent in 2019 to 79 per cent in 2025.

The daily recommended sugar limit is equivalent to about 50g, or 10 teaspoons, of sugar.

It should be no more than 10 per cent of total daily energy intake.

Ong attributed the change to people consuming less sugar from sugar-sweetened drinks.

This is due to consumers making a conscious shift towards lower-sugar options and industry reformulation.

Calories from commonly consumed dishes going up

HPB analysed 182 commonly consumed dishes and found their calorie and sodium content rose between 2023 and 2025/2026.

A serving of chicken rice, for example, saw its calories go up from 557 to 646.

Calories for nasi biryani rose even more from a higher base of 970 to 1,310.

Char kway teow saw its calories rise from 748 to 989.

More getting sufficient total physical activity

On a positive note, a greater proportion of residents are getting sufficient total physical activity.

The figure rose from 84.7 per cent in 2024 to 87.3 per cent in 2025.

But the survey also revealed that only 37.6 per cent did sufficient muscle-strengthening activities.

This proportion has stayed stable since 2020.

Participation in health screening for chronic diseases and cancers has also increased.