Boys who slept nine hours or more every night had a lower obesity risk and less dangerous fat.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

A recent A*Star study found that boys who slept at least nine hours every night had a 51 per cent lower obesity risk and less abdominal fat. 

Abdominal fat, particularly fat around internal organs, is more strongly linked to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease than overall body weight.

Published in the journal Obesity (Oct 2025), the study used MRI imaging to examine how sleep habits relate to fat distribution in 10-year-olds in Singapore. 

In this episode, host and ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out more from the study’s authors Dr Cai Shirong and Dr Navin Michael, about the importance of sleep and how sleep deprivation can increase the risk of obesity and overweight in children.

Dr Cai And Dr Navin are principal scientists from the A*Star Institute for Human Development and Potential. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:48 Does catching up on sleep during the weekend reduce the risk of obesity?

7:07 Why was there a weaker association between sleep deprivation and obesity in girls?

8:00 Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents

15:45  Why do we prefer burgers over salad when we are sleep deprived? 

17:38 Sleep can help regulate cognition in children

19:43 Examples of caffeinated beverages consumed by children

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Grief is a painful, individual emotional and physical response to a significant loss. But it can be managed. 

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Grief is a painful, individual emotional and physical response to a significant loss.

Death, divorce, the loss of a home or a job, fast declining health are among the major events that people grieve.

To learn more about coping with grief, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Lin Jing, a counsellor from the Singapore Association for Mental Health.

SAMH is one of the few social service agencies focusing on mental health here that operates a general helpline for the public at 1800-283-7019

They also discuss what is grief counselling about. 

If your grief feels like it's too much to bear, please reach out for help. We have included more helplines below.

Highlights (click/tap above):

9:00 When should you consider grief counselling?

12:45 When guilt is thrown into the picture

23:00 Understanding cognitive behaviourial therapy, grief counselling and grief therapy

29:10 Building a life around the loss of a child…

32:00 Appearing strong and unaffected by grief, when you are crumbling inside

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Helplines

Mental well-being

• National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)
• Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)
• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
• Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928
• Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 
• Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)
• The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)
• Tinkle Friend (for primary school-age children): 1800-2744-788

Counselling

• Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252
• Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555
• Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366
• We Care Community Services: 3165-8017
• Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293
• Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990

Online resources

• mindline.sg/fsmh
• eC2.sg
• chat.mentalhealth.sg
• carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)
• limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25)

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You can appear lean but have insufficient muscle mass and too much body fat.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

A local paper has found that 1 in 4 young women, despite having a normal weight, had low muscle mass, weak bones and high body fat. This increases their future risks for not only osteoporosis and muscle loss but metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to the paper’s authors to find out more.

Lead author Dr Mya Thway Tint is a principal scientist at the A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Dean's Office, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. 

Professor Johan Eriksson is the Executive Director of A*STAR IHDP and highly knowledgeable about the S-PRESTO study, or  the Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes cohort study, which the paper is part of.

He was previously a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and the chief physician at Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:50 Having a normal BMI and low bone density

5:03 You have to exercise to grow bone 

10:29 Using bioimpedance or bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure body composition

13:53 What is considered an unhealthy body fat percentage level?

19:56 What can we do to improve our bone health?

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Learn how to manage bothersome symptoms that typically emerge in the four to five years before a woman's final menstruation. 

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Perimenopause is the stage before menopause that many women here do not talk about, largely due to stigma or a lack of awareness. 

The transition phase in perimenopause ends in menopause, which marks the end of a woman's natural fertility. This affects not just her reproductive organs but her entire body, adding to the confusion in distinguishing between ageing or illness. 

In this episode, senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Associate Professor Rukshini Puvanendran, the co-director of the KK Menopause Centre, to counter the misinformation out there.

Prof Ruskhini is also the head and a senior consultant at the Family Medicine Service at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH).

Highlights (click/tap above):

2.28 Symptoms of perimenopause

7.23 Older women can still have hot flushes 

11.03 Some women develop an awareness of their heartbeat 

18:39 What can women do about their symptoms?

30:08 The four symptoms of menopause that doctors won't argue about

31:59 Oestrogen cream to treat vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

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Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Caregiving for persons with mental health conditions is for the long-haul.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Caregivers Alliance Limited is an organisation that focuses on supporting caregivers of persons with mental health conditions as well as those who have developed mental health challenges due to caregiving.  

It has a small outpost at the Institute of Mental Health, where families can seek caregiver support. 

In this episode, senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Ms Evelyn Chng, who is based at the outpost, about the cases that she has seen there, the mental health burden of caregiving, and what caregivers can do about it. 

She heads CAL’s Community Outreach Team or Crest programme. Crest, which acts as a mental health first-stop touchpoint, was developed by the Agency for Integrated Care and the Ministry of Health.

Ms Chng also talks about the challenges of caring for her adult son, who is living with obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:15 Who are these caregivers who stop by the CAL counter at IMH?

10:15 Recent twists in Evelyn’s caregiving journey

14:40 How Evelyn takes care of herself

17:36 A strict father rebuilds his bond with son who was being treated for depression

24:40 A piece of advice for caregivers of persons with mental health conditions

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Listen to our news commentary podcasts on the go every week.

Podcasts have become part of the global media landscape these days. The audio-on-demand format allows many listeners to often do other chores or hobbies, while hearing the shows in the background over headphones or bluetooth speakers

Almost every weekday, check out our discussions on Singapore current affairs and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, personal finance and career.

Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST’s app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.

Trailer narrated by: Podcast editor Ernest Luis ([email protected]); edited by: Elsa Goh

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

'All-in-one' ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Headstart On Record: https://str.sg/wB2m

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Wheel Insights: https://str.sg/iTtE

ST Podcasts website: https://www.straitstimes.com/st-podcasts

(*New) The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Special edition series:

Green Trails (4 eps): https://str.sg/bMyx

This series clinched the gold award for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Asia 2025 on April 23, organised by the World Association of News Publishers (Wan-Ifra).

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

This series clinched the gold award for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Asia 2024 in April, and third place for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2024, both organised by Wan-Ifra.

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

This series also won The Best Podcast/Digital Audio Project category at the 2022 Digital Media Awards Asia, organised by Wan-Ifra.

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

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Community care for your mental health needs.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Seeking mental health help at a centre near you is gradually becoming easier in Singapore as the country focuses its efforts on making this happen. But, it will take time for things to improve. 

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Dr Timothy Singham to find out more about what one can do to navigate the system. He is  a senior Clinical Psychologist and Manager at Viriya Psychological Services at Viriya Community Services

Dr Singham also talked about a client who managed his agoraphobia with therapy given in a community setting instead of in the hospital. Agoraphobia is a disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:07 He sought help for his agoraphobia at a community care agency

4:16 What is a clinical psychologist? 

12:35 Can therapy harm us? 

19:38 Where to go for help in the community care sector?

31:49 An anxiety tip we can all use

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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How can young people build up their mental health and cope with societal pressures while adulting?

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

We all know that adulting is not easy, but why is adulting hitting the mental health of young people so much these days? ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo explores this with two guests in this episode. 

They are: 

Ms Lee Yi Ping, the programme lead and principal Case Manager at Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health in Singapore. This service by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) serves as a first-stop touchpoint for young people seeking mental health support. 

Mr Delane Lim, the founder and executive director of the charity Character & Leadership Academy, which runs youth development, mental wellness, and suicide prevention programmes for young people. Mr Lim himself contemplated suicide at 25 and he knows just how tough adulting can be. 

They discuss what one can do to manage the challenges that adulting brings, whether it is related to identity, work or relationships.

Ms Lee and Mr Lim also share their own experiences. 

This episode was recorded live - and filmed in front of a live audience - at The Projector at Golden Mile Tower, as part of the ST Podcast Live! Sessions celebrating 180 years of The Straits Times in 2025.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:35 Is adulting harder today than it was in the past? 

5:45 Managing the pressure of "having it all" by a certain age

10:55 Delane’s brush with suicide at 25

16:28 Yi Ping on feeling burnout 

19:13 Navigating social media safely

22:20 Advice to their younger selves

Check out ST's new series No Health Without Mental Health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team

Edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

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All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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A safe alternative to clinician-administered tests, the self-test for HPV can help prevent cervical cancer. 

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

HPV or the human papillomavirus is a common virus that is sexually transmitted, and while most HPV infections clear on their own, persistent infections with high-risk types can lead to cervical cancer. 

In March 2025, the Society for Colposcopy & Cervical Pathology of Singapore (SCCPS) published an updated set of cervical cancer screening guidelines. The guidelines now recommend HPV self-sampling as an option to traditional cervical cancer screening methods. 

In Singapore, cervical cancer is currently the 11th most common cancer in women, with 309 new cases and 172 deaths in 2023, according to data from the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Information Centre on HPV and Cancer. 

However, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively, said the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

It aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030, with the following strategy:

• Vaccinate 90 per cent of girls with preventive HPV vaccines by age 15; 
• Screen 70 per cent of women with a high-performance test like HPV DNA screening by age 35, and again by age 45;
• Treat 90 per cent of women who have precancerous cells in the cervix or cervical cancer.

In this episode, senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Dr Felicia Chin, an obstetrician and gynaecological oncologist at Gynae Onco Partners about HPV DNA self-testing, what it entails, and who should screen for cervical cancer. Until late last year, Dr Chin was a senior consultant at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She sits on the SCCPS committee.

Highlights (click/tap above)

1:54 Explaining the various tests for cervical cancers

3:14 Guidelines for cervical cancer screening in Singapore

4:32 How does HPV self-sampling work?

5:23 Difference between a self-test and a pap smear

13:42 Cervical cancer symptoms 

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim & Eden Soh

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Combating loneliness with a mindfulness trainer.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Loneliness – that social pain of not feeling connected, is widespread. Inadequate social connections or social isolation is also a growing problem today.

Social isolation and loneliness have significant, yet often overlooked, consequences for our health and longevity. The health risks are comparable to smoking daily, excessive drinking and obesity, said the World Health Organisation. 

Social isolation and loneliness are also associated with anxiety, depression, suicide, dementia, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, said WHO. 

Why do we feel lonely? Can we stop feeling lonely? What can we do about it? In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out why we feel lonely and gets tips on how the young and old can combat loneliness from a mindfulness trainer.

She is Adjunct Associate Professor Angie Chew, the founder and chief executive of the Brahm Centre, a mental health charity dedicated to promoting happier and healthier living.

Highlights (click/tap above)

1:18  Why do we feel lonely?

3:45 Letting go of judgement to free our minds

5:55 Feeling lonely in the corporate world?

7:10 Combating loneliness in old age

8:39 What can parents do to help their children cope with loneliness?

12:00 Loneliness in young adults

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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