Childhood Obesity In Malaysia
Generally speaking obesity is a result of excessive and inadequate food intake combined with the lack of physical activity and genetic susceptibility.
Childhood obesity in malaysia. The main cause of obesity in children is exogenous obesity which is due to external factors. Obesity prevalence is 14 20 in industrialised countri es but the fastest increases particularly. However in developing countries like malaysia childhood obesity is prevalent among both the rich and poor families. According to the latest statistics from the national health morbidity survey more than 7 of children in malaysia under five years of age have been identified as overweight.
The prevalence of obesity was 18 5 and affected about 13 7 million children and adolescents. Overweight obesity rate in children and adolescents has increased over the years. Studies by the nutrition society of malaysia revealed that almost 30 of children and teenagers aged between 6 and 17 were either overweight or obese. Growing at an alarming rate for decades in both children and adults giammattei et al 2003.
In the case of the poor the children tend to consume lower priced less nutritious but high calorie foods. Data based on the 2011 national health and mortality survey nhms crowned malaysia as the fattest nation in south east asia with the highest prevalence of overweight or obese adults at 44 2. How common is overweight problem in malaysia. Rich families on the other hand often make unwise decisions and buy the wrong kinds of food.
According to the world population review 2019 malaysia has the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in south east asia at 15 6 per cent followed by brunei 14 1 per cent thailand 10 0 per cent and indonesia 6 9 per cent. The figures are grim in malaysia too. In the case of the poor the children tend to consume lower priced less. Childhood obesity is also more common among certain populations.
Up to 30 of malaysian children were found to be overweight obese. However in developing countries like malaysia childhood obesity is prevalent among rich and poor families. Obesity in malaysia has genetic and behavioural underpinnings and policies need to be weighed against political practicability. Obesity prevalence was 13 9 among 2 to 5 year olds 18 4 among 6 to 11 year olds and 20 6 among 12 to 19 year olds.