Obesity in Malaysia is Getting Worse!

Obesity is one of the most pressing health concerns in Malaysia, with nearly 20 per cent of the population classified as obese. The World Obesity Atlas projects that this number could increase to 41 per cent by 2035, stressing the urgent need for comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies.

This concerning trend comes alongside the already alarming increase in chronic diseases, the ‘three highs’ — high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, where over half a million Malaysian adults are currently living with all four conditions.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity

Obesity is often associated with depression and anxiety, which can promote binge eating and lead to a sedentary lifestyle, further weight gain and worsening the condition.

Obesity, classified by a Body Mass Index of 27.5 or higher, is one of the contributing risk factors to multiple health conditions, including diabetes, stroke, heart attack, chronic kidney disease, gout, obstructive sleep apnea, fatty liver, gallstone, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, osteoarthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, cataract, pancreatitis, cancer, deep vein thrombosis, depression, and anxiety.

Obesity leads to insulin resistance, causing the pancreas to work harder to produce more insulin to overcome the resistance, which results in hyperinsulinemia (abnormally high blood sugar levels).

Malaysia is reported to have one of the highest diabetes rates globally, with over 3.6 million Malaysians diagnosed with diabetes in 2019 and the Health Ministry has projected this figure to double by 2025, impacting an estimated seven million Malaysians.

Even more concerning, many Malaysians are unaware they have diabetes — statistics reveal that two in five adults and 84 per cent of young adults aged 18 to 29 are unaware they have the disease.

Obesity can lead to other cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle becomes damaged due to inadequate blood supply, and left ventricle hypertrophy, a condition where the heart muscle thickens, and both of these conditions can result in heart failure.

For obesity prevention and management, self-awareness, stressing that patients must recognise and accept how obesity underpins common health complications affecting the heart, brain and kidneys.

Another key strategy is meal management, a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet and conducting self-monitoring by tracking food intake through journaling or by using authorised health and wellness mobile phone applications. Additionally, lifestyle changes including regular and consistent exercise is necessary. 

Routine health checkups and screenings are also essential for early diagnosis and preventive care and should be done every three months to once a year.

As the prevalence of the ‘four highs’ — high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity — continues to rise among Malaysians, with alarming projections for the future, urgent actions are needed. As obesity can be prevented and managed to reduce the risk of getting multiple diseases, the key strategies to address this pressing issue include enhancing self-awareness, managing meals, incorporating regular exercise, seeking professional guidance and regular health checkups and screenings.

Reference:

Beyond the three highs: The silent threat of obesity in Malaysia, Bernama, 12 September 2024