More than half, or 53.5 per cent, of Malaysians screened under the National Health Screening Initiative (NHSI) are either overweight or obese.
The NHSI 2023 figures were released by then-Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa in a written Dewan Rakyat reply 29 November 2023.
As for children, 30 per cent of those aged between 5 and 13 years are obese, regardless of whether they come from rich or poor families.
Cases of overweight people and obesity are now increasing at an alarming rate in the country, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
Malaysia has earned the unsavoury title of the fattest nation in Asia with about half its population being obese in the span of 30 years.
Naturally, Malaysia tops the obesity rankings followed closely by Brunei in Southeast Asia as well.
Obesity rankings in Southeast Asia
1. Malaysia
2. Brunei
3. Thailand
4. indonesia
5. Philippines
6. Singapore
7. Myanmar
8. Laos
9. Cambodia
10. Vietnam
(Source: World Population Review)
A sedentary lifestyle, consuming large amounts of convenient but unhealthy ultra-processed food and environmental stress are some main factors that lead to obesity in Malaysia.
Malaysians are proud of our food heritage but our diet is made up of a lot of ultra processed food with significant amounts of salt, sugar and various sauces thrown in for good measure. Sedap! Our tastebuds have been irretrievably changed as a result.
Ironically, we boast to everyone, especially foreigners, Malaysian food is the tastiest!
In food-obsessed Malaysia, the opening of a new bubble tea shop or a US fast food outlet often means long queues around the block made up of eager foodies hoping to be one of the first customers.
Malaysians need to eat healthier with less salt, less sugar and go back to traditional plant-based foods such as tofu, gluten products and soy proteins.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death, dramatically decreasing not just a person’s overall quality of life but also their life expectancy. Obesity puts people at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and even certain types of cancer.
The NHSI 2023 figures were released by then-Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa in a written Dewan Rakyat reply 29 November 2023.
As for children, 30 per cent of those aged between 5 and 13 years are obese, regardless of whether they come from rich or poor families.
Cases of overweight people and obesity are now increasing at an alarming rate in the country, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
Malaysia has earned the unsavoury title of the fattest nation in Asia with about half its population being obese in the span of 30 years.
Naturally, Malaysia tops the obesity rankings followed closely by Brunei in Southeast Asia as well.
Obesity rankings in Southeast Asia
1. Malaysia
2. Brunei
3. Thailand
4. indonesia
5. Philippines
6. Singapore
7. Myanmar
8. Laos
9. Cambodia
10. Vietnam
(Source: World Population Review)
A sedentary lifestyle, consuming large amounts of convenient but unhealthy ultra-processed food and environmental stress are some main factors that lead to obesity in Malaysia.
Malaysians are proud of our food heritage but our diet is made up of a lot of ultra processed food with significant amounts of salt, sugar and various sauces thrown in for good measure. Sedap! Our tastebuds have been irretrievably changed as a result.
Ironically, we boast to everyone, especially foreigners, Malaysian food is the tastiest!
In food-obsessed Malaysia, the opening of a new bubble tea shop or a US fast food outlet often means long queues around the block made up of eager foodies hoping to be one of the first customers.
Malaysians need to eat healthier with less salt, less sugar and go back to traditional plant-based foods such as tofu, gluten products and soy proteins.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death, dramatically decreasing not just a person’s overall quality of life but also their life expectancy. Obesity puts people at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and even certain types of cancer.
