The observance of National Nutrition Day marked a renewed call to address rising obesity rates among adolescents in Duren Sawit. Deputy Subdistrict Head of Duren Sawit, Andri Priwitama Maila, used the forum to urge residents to reduce consumption of instant foods and high-sugar beverages. Speaking under the theme Nutrition for an Optimal Future Toward the Golden Generation 2045, he framed obesity as a public health challenge rather than a cosmetic issue. The event positioned nutrition awareness as a long-term investment in human capital.
The discussion highlighted worrying national data, with 16 percent of adolescents aged 13 to 15 classified as obese. Andri argued that the long-held perception that being overweight signals prosperity must be abandoned. Easy access to instant food and sugary drinks, he noted, has normalized unhealthy habits in daily life. In this context, obesity was described as a threat to future quality of life over the next two decades.
The event gathered 100 participants, including students, parents, teachers, and school principals, and featured nutrition expert Rita Ramayulis. The forum emphasized collective responsibility across households, schools, and health institutions. Andri stressed that if subdistrict offices, schools, community health centers, and families share the same commitment, meaningful change is possible. He expressed optimism that coordinated action could help prepare a healthier generation for Indonesia’s 2045 vision.
Head of the Duren Sawit Community Health Center, Endang Sri Wahyuningsih, reinforced the need for cross-sector collaboration. She stated that health workers alone cannot monitor children’s diets around the clock. Strengthening the role of schools, local leaders, and youth health posts was presented as essential to making nutrition awareness engaging and effective. Parents, she concluded, remain the first and most important line of defense in preventing adolescent obesity.
Alexander Jason – Redaksi
