It’s no secret that Malaysian adults are the most obese in Asia, and it looks like the kids are following in their footsteps.
According to the findings in Unicef’s Regional Report on Nutritional Security in ASEAN, more than 7% of children under the age of five in Malaysia have been classified as overweight. In the same report, it was also highlighted that 8% of children in the same age group suffered acute malnutrition.
Not only that, the report said that almost one in five Malaysian children were stunted or too short for their age, a trend that is also seeing an increase in other ASEAN countries such as Thailand and Indonesia.
Health Ministry Nutrition Division director Zalma Abd Razak told Bernama that Malaysians’ unhealthy eating culture – not taking enough fruits and vegetables, indulging in oily and fatty food – is one of the main cause of such problems.
“The National Plan of Action for Nutrition of Malaysia 2016-2025 Framework which is at its final stage now will focus on combating obesity in children and adults towards achieving optimal nutritional well-being of Malaysians,” she was quoted by Bernama as saying.
“In the long term, probably the Health Ministry can cooperate with the Education Ministry in placing nutritionists in schools or district education offices as schoolchildren are the best target group in inculcating a healthy eating culture in society.”
