The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has come out in the defence of 24-hour restaurants, but urged that they serve healthy food.
MMA president Datuk Dr. NKS Tharmaseelan said 24-hour eateries are not the cause of obesity among Malaysians, but the typed of food served at these outlets are.
“The eateries must be advised to serve healthy food, and it should be made mandatory for menus to show the amount of calories of each meal as this would contribute as a ‘disincentive’ to consume that food,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Dr Tharmaseelan made the remarks in response to a statement made on Sunday by Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Noor, president of the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity, who said the government had to be more serious about controlling the environment that encourages obesity, and urged all food outlets to be closed by midnight rather than be allowed to operate 24 hours a day.
Dr Tharmaseelan said most developed countries did not have 24-hour food outlets as found in Malaysia, and yet they experienced prevalent obesity anyway.
He added that the livelihood of thousands of Malaysians would be affected if restaurants were mandated to close down at midnight, or have their operating hours limited, and this would have a negative financial impact on the nation as a whole.
He also argued that most tourists see the 24-hour restaurants as an attraction, due to their accessibility and affordability.
“Instead of banning, we should wean them off eating unhealthy and excess food. They should be encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles,” he said, adding that persistence was needed.
Dr Tharmaseelan said the Government should make bold moves in withdrawing unhealthy foods and raising taxes on all types of sweetened drinks and food besides coming up with incentives and a long-term plan to address obesity.
More recreational centres and parks, too, should be built and maintained properly, he said.
Photo: McKay Savage / Flickr
Story: The Star Online
