Obesity ‘critical’ public health crisis in Malaysia
Minister says more than half of adult population living with obesity
GOMBAK, Malaysia (MNTV) – Malaysia is facing a critical public health crisis, with more than half of the adult population living with obesity or being overweight, reports The Sun Malaysia.
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 32.6% of the population is overweight, while 21.8% suffers from obesity.
This places Malaysia among Southeast Asian countries with the highest prevalence of obesity among adults.
The rise of childhood obesity is also a cause for concern as it is a significant risk factor for developing chronic diseases in adulthood.
The NHMS 2023 reports that approximately one in three children aged between 13 and 17 are affected by overweight or obesity issues.
“Obesity and diabetes are not just individual health concerns, they are a national challenge that requires a united effort,“ said Dzulkefly.
The three areas with the highest rates of overweight people are Kuala Lumpur (40.6%), Putrajaya (35.5%) and Labuan (34.8%) while those with the lowest rates are Sarawak (29.7%), Kelantan (28.2%) and Perlis (27%).
The three areas with the highest rates of obesity are Perlis (32.8%), Negeri Sembilan (28.9%) and Putrajaya (25.8%) while the three with the lowest rates are Sabah (19.5%), Selangor (19.1%) and Kuala Lumpur (18.2%).
A total of 15.6% of Malaysians suffer from diabetes, with the highest rates being in Perak (21.7%), Pahang (21.5%) and Perlis (20.6%).
Those suffering from hypertension total 29.2%, with Perak being the state with the highest rate (40.2%), followed by Sarawak (39.9%) and Perlis (39.1%).
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
