Malaysia’s food culture is fueling a double crisis: obesity and diabetes

THE numbers are in and they’re not pretty: more than half of Malaysians are now overweight or obese.

The latest National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 shows the obesity rate has shot up to 54.4 per cent.

That’s literally one in two of us carrying more weight than is healthy and it’s putting the nation on a dangerous path.

Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre Consultant Internal Medicine Physician Dr Nurul Nadiah Mohd Iqbal said obesity is way more than a matter of looks, it's a serious health issue that can quietly set off a chain of problems inside the body.

One of the biggest red flags is abdominal obesity where fat gathers around the waist and midsection.

"Obesity isn’t just about appearance. Abdominal obesity, for instance, carries the same health risks as overall obesity.

"We’re seeing a worrying rise in people with large waistlines, which increases the risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions," she told the media in a health forum.

The bigger red flag? Diabetes. About 15 per cent of Malaysians are living with the disease but nearly half of them don’t even know they have it.

"That’s alarming. People are walking around with undiagnosed diabetes. By the time symptoms show up, damage may already be done. Early detection through regular screening is key," she said.

She pointed out that the trend isn’t just random; it’s fueled by how we live.

"We're talking high sugar intake, not enough exercise, too much screen time, smoking, poor sleep and even rapid weight gain early in life. All of these are modifiable risk factors. We can actually do something about them," she said.

Studies also highlight the dangers of visceral fat, the sneaky layer that wraps around organs like the liver and heart.

It’s not the kind of fat you can always see, but it’s the one that messes with insulin and sets the stage for diabetes.

NHMS data paints a picture of a nation stuck in bad habits: many of us don’t get the recommended seven hours of sleep, urban dwellers are the worst sleepers and a large chunk of the population spends hours every day sitting or lying down.

And yes, we’re drinking way too much sugar, an average of 7.5 teaspoons a day, with half of it coming from beverages.

Malaysia loves its food no one’s denying that. But when teh ais and nasi lemak start sending us straight to the doctor’s office, it’s time to rethink the menu. Nobody’s asking you to break up with your favourite dishes, just modify the portions, opt for healthier versions. 

Because if half the country is overweight, the real question is this: do we want to keep feeding the problem, or finally change the recipe?