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The Indonesian Community Is Increasingly Inclined Towards Adopting An Active Lifestyle
Tuesday, 21 Jan 2025
A sports medicine specialist from Pondok Indah-Bintaro Hospital, Dr. Antonius Andi Kurniawan, Sp.K.Om, observes that the Indonesian population is increasingly embracing an active lifestyle, which offers numerous health benefits.
"This year, I believe there has been a notable increase in the trend of active living. When we discuss running events, participation is growing, and at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), the number of people walking has significantly risen, especially in Jakarta," Dr. Antonius stated in a comment reported by Antara News on Sunday, January 18, 2025.
In response to a 2017 Stanford University study that labeled Indonesians as reluctant to walk, Andi suggested that the rising trend of active lifestyles may be influenced by the widespread use of social media.
The presence of numerous influencers promoting fitness content has encouraged the public, particularly the youth, to engage with and adopt the behaviors advocated by these influencers.
"Younger individuals tend to favor social media, making it easier for them to lead active lives. This is my assumption, as I do not yet have concrete data," he remarked.
Andi noted that the community now appears to enjoy light exercises, such as walking around the GBK area or cycling during the regular car-free day events held every weekend.
However, to further enhance active living, attention must be given to the quality and functionality of various facilities. For instance, pedestrian walkways should be more suitable and comfortable for use, similar to those found in Singapore or Europe.
This initiative also aims to alleviate the burden on BPJS regarding chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, which are on the rise.
"The hope is that the trend of active living will continue to grow, accompanied by appropriate and balanced exercise to prevent injuries or mere validation on social media. We aspire for a different situation in 2025," Andi concluded.
