Fitness tech company Fitbit announced on Wednesday (21 August) that they have signed a deal with the Singapore government to collaborate with the Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB) on a project to help improve the health of the population.
Like many countries, Singapore faces a rise in chronic conditions like hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cancer. As such the initiative, called Live Healthy SG, was designed by Fitbit and HPB specifically to help promote healthier living through sustained behaviour change, said the statement.
With a population of 5.6 million, Singapore already has a program in place called the National Steps Challenge to encourage people to adopt a healthier lifestyle by enticing them with technology. The challenge offers free heart-rate monitoring fitness tracker for each person that signs up and winners are rewarded with airline tickets and fitness equipment.
In June 2019, the HealthySG taskforce chaired by Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of Home Affairs and Health recommended the promotion of health through wearable tech as a more high-tech version of the National Steps Challenge. The task force suggested employing the use of smartwatches and fitness devices to nudge and support users in achieving their health goals.
Zee Yoong Kong, CEO of HPB said in the statement that announced the collaboration with Fitbit, “We intend to work with industry innovators, such as Fitbit, on additional efforts to use technology to provide Singaporeans with personalized health advice and nudges, so that they can take control of their own health.”
Live Healthy SG is part of Singapore’s Smart Nation effort which aims to transform key sectors through technology, the statement said. It continued, “The initiative takes on the unique challenge of using its technology to help improve population health, based on the company’s ability to drive behaviour change and health outcomes.”
Leveraging on the Fitbit ecosystem of wearable devices, software and services, participants in the program “will receive a dynamic and personalized experience, helping to motivate them to adopt healthier habits and achieve better outcomes in the areas of physical activity, sleep, nutrition and emotional wellbeing,” explained the statement.
As for the reach of the project, Fitbit CEO James Park told CNBC that he thinks the program could reach up to 20% of the population, or approximately 1 million people.
Starting mid-September, residents of Singapore can register for Fitbit Inspire, specifically designed for employers and health plans. The company launched this model earlier this year. Customers can get the device for free if they commit to spending S$10 a month for a year of premium services which include one-on-one coaching and guidance. The program itself will be launched in October.
Fitbit noted in the statement, “in addition to driving positive lifestyle changes in individuals, the program will serve as a resource that provides detailed population insights to inform future health programs.”
This will enable HPB to further explore opportunities in precision public health, providing specific interventions to the right population at the right time.
Speaking to CNBC, Fitbit CEO James Park said that the negotiations for the contract were ‘highly competitive’ and that Apple was among the bidders vying for the project. Though no details were released on how much the deal is worth, Fitbit said that it is material to the company’s 2019 revenues. CNBC noted a spokesperson mentioning that the agreement with Singapore represents more than 5% of the company’s expected revenue for 2020.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

The need to safeguard the integrity of investigation into management of Ang Mo Kio Town Council

The Reform Party (RP) expressed its concern over the news that the General…

《独立》拒绝撤二文章和道歉 富食客恫言采法律行动

职总富食客将对本地时事网站《独立新加坡》(The Independent Singapore)采取法律行动。富食客代表律师致函《独立》要求该网站在本周二下午三点前,撤下指涉富食客导致年迈小贩过劳死的文章,并作出道歉,不过遭到《独立》拒绝。 《独立》在本月20日下午6时23分,才收到富食客代表律师David Lim&Partner的来函,指该网媒刊登的两篇文章含有诽谤成分,导致富食客名誉受损,要求后者撤下。 第一篇文章有关读者爆料,指有年迈小贩被富食客“欺压”,在农历新年期间申请缩短营业遭拒,为避富食客罚款,被迫工作18小时,导致过劳死。 第二篇文章则指,富食客对同样在樟宜机场第四航空楼食阁营生的年迈小贩,罚款3500元,原因是后者脚伤无法开档数日。 富食客认为第一篇文章“含有不实和误导信息”,有关假消息在网络传播将造成不良社会影响。 富食客已在周一在脸书专页刊载文告,澄清上述两篇文章内容。 《独立》:除非能证明造假才删文 富食客针对第一篇文章澄清,富食客并未受到已故年迈小贩方先生,缩短营业时间的申请。富食客分支经理在今年2月19日,有发现方先生身体不适,说服他去接受治疗,并找人顶替他的位置。孰料,下午就传来方先生因心脏衰竭过世的消息。 至于被罚款3500元的小贩,富食客则指出,管理层曾在上述小贩休业一星期后,发出三天内开档便取消罚款的提议,但对方没有这么做。而事件发生时,摊主正在进行摊位转让,因此触犯了提前终止条款。…

WP : No point debating or arguing over hawker centres issues

In response to the statement released by the Prime Minister Office on…

Live Blog – AirAsia Flight #QZ8501 Missing (Day 2)

All times listed are Singapore time (GMT +8). Airbus 320, same plane…