Fight OBESITY NOW! Malaysia was ranked FIRST

The adult obesity rate in ASEAN 

is on the rise. 

In 2010, Malaysia was ranked sixth 

by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Ministry of Health reported that 

60% of Malaysian aged 18 and above had a body mass index (BMI) of over 23. 

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of weight divided by height squared. BMI value of 23 to 24.9 indicates overweight, while a reading above 25 means obese.

However, in 2011, Malaysia has the highest obesity rate 

among Southeast Asian countries and ranked sixth in Asia-Pacific region, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said as reported in Borneo Post online.

Obesity is a growing problem

in our country. It could lead to numerous serious health consequences such as 

diabetes, heart attack, kidney disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. 

To date, 14.9% and 43% of Malaysians aged above 30 suffer from diabetes and hypertension respectively. 20.7% of adults over 18 suffer from high cholesterol. This is indeed an alarming figure. Added to that, obesity in the younger generation which includes children is also increasing.(Farah Abu Bakar, Natrah Mohd Emran and Priscilla Annabel, 2011)

Realizing the seriousness of this issue, the 

Ministry  of Health will employ 300 nutritionists

to serve at government clinics nationwide to help tackle the  growing obesity problems. Their job is mainly to create more awareness on the dangers of unhealthy eating. On top of that, the Malaysian Council for Obesity Prevention (MCOM) was launched in April  2010. This comprises 

13 professional bodies and NGOs 

and was set up to help the government counter the problem of obesity in the country. Besides that,  there are other aggressive health campaigns that had been launched by the Government and NGOs nationwide in order to address this concern. (Farah Abu Bakar, Natrah Mohd Emran and Priscilla Annabel, 2011)

Government of  Malaysia is trying their best to
decrease and prevent further consequences.

Are you also contribute to these statistics? 

If NO, have you take steps to ensure that you will continue to be 

outside of that percentage? 

If YES, are you maintaining it and ensure to the 

optimum level of health?

How to start an exerise? Click here

Sources:

MyForesigt TM (myfutures.my)

Borneo Post Online, 2011

Berita Harian, 2011