National Steps Challenge to see removal of steps milestones, reduced healthpoints awarded from Feb 20

The reward milestones for the National Steps Challenge (NSC) will be modified from Feb 20, announced the Health Promotion Board (HPB) on Sunday (Feb 5).

Rewards for the 7,500 and 10,000 steps milestones will be removed, as HPB aims to nudge participants to engage in more regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (MPVA).

Currently, the NSC rewards users who hit the 5,000, 7,500 and 10,000 steps milestones between 10 and 40 healthpoints. Under the refined system, only 10 healthpoints will be rewarded for those who clock 5,000 and more steps.

This will be the only reward milestone under the steps challenge category, and caters to “sedentary individuals who are starting out on physical activity”, or those who are “unable to undertake more intensive physical activity”.

Healthpoints will still be awarded for those who participate in MVPA for a duration of 10-19 minutes, 20-29 minutes, and for at least 30 minutes. But the healthpoints awarded will be reduced to 10, 15 and 20 respectively, from 10, 25, and 40.

HPB recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of MVPA per week, where doing so can reduce the risk of diseases including the incidence of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Currently, NSC users can redeem $5 evouchers with commercial entities, including FairPrice, Klook, Polar and LiHo Tea, for every 750 healthpoints.

HPB added that there will also be an increase in physical activity programmes under Healthier SG.  These changes are part of an effort to “spur more residents” to meet the recommendations of the Singapore Physical Activity Guidelines (SPGA).

In support of Healthier SG, HPB will also progressively scale up its overall capacity of physical activity programmes. It intends to serve “around 47,000 participants every week from the current 31,000”.

These programmes are held islandwide in community spaces such as sports centres and parks, and consist of activities including Zumba, yoga and high-intensity interval training sessions.

HPB said: “As Singaporeans enrol in Healthier SG, more participants will be expected in both physical activity and self-directed programmes, and more resources will be committed to support their adoption of active lifestyles”.

Those intending to participate can find recommended physical activities and safety tips in line with SPGA on Healthub’s website.