Allson Sim has been a fan of climbing for years, but his bouldering session on a recent morning at a Singapore gym was particularly enjoyable because it was free, courtesy of the government. 

“Climbing is relatively expensive in Singapore,” said Mr Sim, a 24-year-old university student, adding that free classes encouraged people to try sporting activities that were outside their comfort zone.

Singapore’s famously interventionist government is betting that he is right. It declared “war on diabetes” in 2016 and spent S$940m ($693m) on measures to fight the disease in 2017, according to the most recent data available. Its free workouts programme, Sunrise in the City, that it launched in 2013 is part of that effort, but it has added a national “steps” challenge, introduced subsidised health screening programmes and is considering a sugar tax and a ban on unhealthy drinks.