Childhood Obesity In Malaysia
The national health and morbidity survey nhms 2019 findings meanwhile showed that 50 1 per cent of adults in malaysia were either overweight or obese 30 4 per cent were overweight and 19 7 per cent obese.
Childhood obesity in malaysia. Childhood obesity has been growing at an alarming rate and is the most common nutritional problem among children in. However in developing countries like malaysia childhood obesity is prevalent among rich and poor families. The main cause of obesity in children is exogenous obesity which is due to external factors. Overweight obesity rate in children and adolescents has increased over the years.
In the 2015 nhms 11 8 percent of children below 18 years old are found to be obese. In most cases though children are overweight because of unhealthy eating patterns and a sedentary lifestyle. The banned food items include instant noodles candies preserved foods and carbonated drinks. Childhood obesity a growing health crisis in malaysia by bernama july 7 2019 10 11pm file pix according to the world health organisation who the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased at an alarming rate globally in 2016 the number of overweight children under the age of five was estimated to be over 41 million.
Now only high quality and healthy school meals are allowed in canteens. How common is overweight problem in malaysia. In malaysia obesity has increased from 1 in 1990 to 6 in 1997 among. Nik shanita safii universiti kebangsaan malaysia nikshanita ukm edu my nik shanita is currently head of the dietetics programme at universiti kebangsaan malaysia.
In the case of the poor the children tend to consume lower priced less. The causes and risk factors of obesity are complex of which many are still unclear to the medical experts. The problem of childhood obesity is affecting every ethnic group in malaysia with the chinese leading the pack. Up to 30 of malaysian children were found to be overweight obese.
Her areas of interest are in dietary management of childhood obesity glycaemic index sports nutrition and nutritional status of specific groups. The ministry of health in malaysia has taken a school based intervention to beat obesity in children by banning certain types of food from being sold in public school canteens.