15 Feb 2011
THE Health Ministry has set up a panel of medical experts to review the Lose To Win reality TV programme after a participant died last month.
The panel is chaired by Professor Ng Han Seong, chairman of the medical board at Singapore General Hospital. It will review the competition’s selection criteria and safety measures.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced the panel in his response to questions from Dr Lam Pin Min (Ang Mo Kio GRC) and Dr Ong Seh Hong (Marine Parade GRC) on the weight-loss programme developed by the Health Promotion Board (HPB).
The four medical professionals on the panel will also look at the suitability and safety of the programme’s activities, and the adequacy of safety measures and emergency services.
The review is in progress and the panel hopes to complete its report by the end of next month, the Health Ministry said. In the meantime, HPB has suspended the programme’s third run.
On Jan 22, Mr Ong Joo Aun, 54, a father of two, took part in a Lose To Win fitness assessment, which included a safety briefing, a 10-minute warm-up session and a 2km walk.
All safety procedures, which included the presence of HPB and fitness staff and an ambulance with three paramedics on stand-by, were in place, said Mr Khaw.
Mr Ong completed the walk in 17 minutes. His heart rate was measured at the end and found to be normal.
While resting, he suddenly collapsed. He died despite receiving immediate resuscitative measures and being taken to a nearby hospital. The cause of death was found to be ischaemic heart disease.
Mr Khaw said the former human resource executive had undergone a heart bypass 10 years ago, but was certified fit to exercise regularly. In December last year, he had completed a 10km run.
The health minister said the programme is designed to target weight loss at not more than 1kg per week and does not take in applicants with a Body Mass Index (a measure of a person’s body fat) exceeding 37.5. There are also rigorous procedures to screen out applicants with medical risk, and exercises are properly supervised.
“HPB’s programme emphasises safe, gradual and sustainable weight loss... a different approach from similar reality TV programmes in other countries,” Mr Khaw said.
He said that apart from this year’s incident and some muscle strains and sprains, there have been no other serious injuries sustained by contestants.
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