Following a regimen that includes sticking to a specific meal schedule, engaging in a 16-hour fasting window, and ensuring adequate water intake could lead to significant health benefits, says a Tongan physical therapist.

Sione Takataka, also known as JT Takataka, made the comment amid growing concerns about Tongans dying young from chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Takataka has been working as a private physical therapist in Nuku’alofa for about a decade, and his practice has become one of the most sought-after therapy centres in the kingdom.
Kaniva News has closely monitored Takataka’s streaming videos and has observed that his rehabilitation intervention program significantly aids individuals in taking control of their lives, especially after experiencing a stroke or while facing the risk of one.
Two types of reports indicate a concerning trend of young Tongans dying from chronic diseases.
One source is the official statistics provided by health providers, including Tonga’s Ministry of Health. The other source comes from social media, where reports about young individuals dying regularly have become increasingly common.
Official statistics
More than 80 percent of deaths in Tonga are attributed to Non-Communicable Diseases, according to a report by the ABC.
In November last year, the World Bank approved a US$30 million grant to help Tonga meet the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
The grant under the project Health Enhancement and Resiliency in Tonga (HEART) was intended to benefit all Tongans, especially more than 15,000 people residing in Vava’u and the Niuas, where service delivery capacity will be expanded.
“Non-communicable diseases are a significant health issue in Tonga,” former Minister of Finance Tiofilusi Tiueti, said when receiving the grant.
Social media reports
We use unofficial statistics here to refer to the number of deaths that are not officially recognized by the government but have been reported on social media, as noted by Kaniva News.
Most recent deaths are individuals in their late 40s to late 50s.
When Kaniva News inquired about those deaths on Facebook, unofficial responses mostly attributed them to heart attack, obesity or diabetes.
On average, we observe reports of one or two deceased individuals announced on our Facebook news feed by their families each week.
Based on this informal data, there is a growing consensus among the Tongan online community that Tongans now have a low life expectancy.
Tonga’s life expectancy, or the number of years a person can expect to live, was 72 in 2022.
Therapist’s advice
Takataka, who operates his gym at Teufaiva Park in Nuku’alofa, is known for assisting locals with stroke and obesity recovery.

Individuals experiencing stroke symptoms such as foot inflammation and pain have reported relief after participating in Takataka’s fitness sessions.
In his latest video streaming seen by Kaniva News, Takataka consulted with a person named Stanley Lotima.
He said Lotima was 47 years old.
Takataka said that Lotima initially weighed 157kg and is experiencing leg pain, which he said was a common indication of blood clots. His weight is risky, Takataka said.
He aimed to reduce Lotima’s weight by 10 kilograms as fast as he could.
He said that Lotima’s current conditions could also be an early indicator of a potential stroke. Stroke cuts off blood supply to parts of the brain, killing some cells. They are common and can affect people of all ages, but many patients survive if they receive prompt treatment, according to the BBC.
Takataka told viewers that he was discussing with Lotima the solution to his illness, which is his gym’s “16:8 Intermittent Fasting” programme.
16:8 Intermittent Fasting
The programme means the patient has to fast for 16 hours from the evening until the next day.
They have to choose a certain starting time, like 6pm, and fast until 10am the next morning.
During this timeframe, the patient must not eat anything apart from drinking water or coffee without sugar.
He said that in Lotima’s case, he can eat whatever food he likes as long as he keeps to the timeframe and fasts on a regular basis.
He said they would look at the type of food he should eat later.
He also advised Lotima to squeeze lime or lemon fruits into his food or drink them without sugar during his fast.
In other streaming videos viewed by Kaniva News, Takataka mentioned that people could consider filling their plates with 80 percent vegetables and 20 percent of different foods they prefer.
Takataka’s advices are supported by other academic research.
“Eating a high calorie diet can lead to weight gain and obesity. But the health consequences of diet depend partly on when in the day meals occur”, an article by the National Institute of Health said.
Consuming food during periods of usual inactivity, such as nighttime for humans, may contribute to weight gain, it said.
“This suggests that obesity results in part from a mismatch between meal timing and the natural day-night cycle, or circadian rhythm.
“But the mechanisms by which this happens aren’t fully understood”.