BY
Farah Abu Bakar, Natrah Mohd Emran and Priscilla Annabel

The adult obesity rate in ASEAN is on the rise. In 2010, Malaysia was ranked sixth by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Ministry of Health reported that 60% of Malaysian aged 18 and above had a body mass index (BMI) of over 23. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of weight divided by height squared. BMI value of 23 to 24.9 indicates overweight, while a reading above 25 means obese.

Obesity is a growing problem in our country. It could lead to numerous serious health consequences such as diabetes, heart attack, kidney disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. To date, 14.9% and 43% of Malaysians aged above 30 suffer from diabetes and hypertension respectively. 20.7% of adults over 18 suffer from high cholesterol. This is indeed an alarming figure. Added to that, obesity in the younger generation which includes children is also increasing.

Many may wonder what contributes to obesity. In fact, most would associate bad eating habits directly to obesity. However, there are other contributing factors as well. Malaysia has always been known as a food heaven. Our diverse culture has influenced our way of eating and our lifestyle. It is true indeed that Malaysians do eat around the clock. This is made worse with the blooming of 24-hours food joints such as mamak stalls, fast food restaurants etc. The poor eating habits are worrying. It is known that a high consumption of fat and meat would increase body weights. This would lead to obesity and the consequent diseases.

Exercise is another way to prevent obesity. However, many of us give a lot of excuses not to exercise. Some of us refuse to even practise simple daily routine such as walking to nearby shop, or school or even office as part of our exercise regime. Many would prefer to use the elevator rather than taking the stairs. As a result, the bodies accumulate more fats.

To some people, eating is considered as a stress reliever and gives comfort. This group of people are also known as emotional eater. Whenever they are in stressful situation, they tend to eat more, hoping to divert their mind from thinking about their problem. This is a wrong thinking.

Studies have shown that obesity can also be passed on genetically. Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting that it may have a genetic linkage. However, family members share not only genes but also diet and lifestyle habits that may give rise to obesity. Separating these lifestyle factors from genetic ones is often difficult. Notwithstanding, there is a growing evidence pointing to heredity as a strong determining factor of obesity.

We can see many among us who are obese as a result of unhealthy eating. They can be our siblings, office mates, neighbours, or in fact almost anyone. Due to extreme weight gain, they often have difficulty breathing and suffer from other health complications. Undergoing costly gastric bypass seems to be their last resort

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