Taipei: The Taiwan Millennium Health Foundation and 7-Eleven have introduced a rewards program designed to promote healthy habits such as walking, maintaining balanced diets, and regular health monitoring. This initiative enables participants to redeem points for food and drinks, aiming to encourage healthier lifestyle choices.

According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan Millennium Health Foundation Chairman Wayne Sheu announced at a press conference that the program seeks to assist individuals at high risk of metabolic syndrome in improving their lifestyle habits. Sheu, who is also the vice president of the National Health Research Institutes, highlighted that the foundation's previous initiatives have already supported approximately 600 high-risk individuals in receiving better care. Last year, 153 participants improved their diets, lost weight, and normalized their blood pressure through an earlier rewards program.

Building on last year's collaboration with 7-Eleven, the foundation has expanded the initiative into a broader rewards program that will run from Wednesday through December 31, encouraging healthier lifestyles. Participants can collect points in the "Health ACE" section of the 7-Eleven-affiliated uniopen app by engaging in healthy activities, such as walking, monitoring their blood pressure, and uploading photos of their meals. These points can then be redeemed for food and drinks at 7-Eleven or used to enter prize draws.

In August, available rewards include tea eggs, coffee, salads, soy milk, tea, and apples. Participants can also enter prize draws to win a blood pressure monitor or gold valued at NT$10,000 (US$308), with prizes for the following months to be announced later. The foundation noted that anyone who registers as a member through the uniopen app can participate in the program, regardless of nationality.

Health Promotion Administration Director-General Shen Ching-fen emphasized at the event the importance of promoting the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome to reduce the medical burden caused by chronic diseases. Shen stated that adopting healthy lifestyle habits is more effective than medication in reducing the risk of chronic diseases and managing metabolic syndrome.

Further, Taiwan Association of Lifestyle Medicine Chairperson Lin Hung-jung cited a study published in Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, noting that adults who increase their daily steps from 3,000 to 5,000 can lower their risk of death by 37 percent, with an increase to 7,000 steps lowering the risk by 51 percent.