Article : 1 MOH allocates RM12 million to address obesity Posted on 20 May 2012 - 04:16pm Last updated on 20 May 2012

- 05:36pm BENTONG (May 20, 2012): The Health Ministry is allocating RM12 million for the "Walk With the People" programme, a campaign aimed at addressing obesity and to educate the public to lead a healthy lifestyle. Its minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, said the campaign would be part of the activities for the "Karnival Jelajah Sihat" programme to be launched simultaneously in 88 districts and villages nationwide. "The "Walk 10,000 Steps" campaign is also among efforts to address obesity because it increases the risk of hyper-tension, cholesterol and diabetes," he told reporters after launching the "Karnival Jelajah Sihat" here today. Also present were Health Deputy Director-General Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, State Health Director Datuk Dr Noraini Baba, State Local Government, Environment and Health Committee Chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun and Ketari State Assemblyman Datuk Dr Ng Kwan Chai. Liow said lack of exercise and unhealthy dietary habits were believed to be the main cause of obesity which was a gateway to various chronic diseases. He said statistics on people with diabetes continued to show an increase every year, from 11 per cent in 2006 to 15 per cent last year. Based on health screenings carried out in the country, 2.6 million people had diabetes, he said, adding that the number did not include those who were not aware that they had the disease. The government, he said, would continue to carry out various campaigns to educate and instill awareness among the people to lead a healthy lifestyle. "Going for health screening is also important for early detection of any chronic diseases," he added.
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Mind Map: 1 MOH allocates RM12 million to address obesity

Walk With the People" programme, a campaign aimed at addressing obesity

Educate the public to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Campaign is also among efforts to address obesity because it increases the risk of hyper-tension, cholesterol and diabetes.

Lack of exercise and unhealthy dietary habits were believed to be the main cause of obesity

Statistics on people with diabetes continued to show an increase every year.

Health screenings carried out in the country, 2.6 million people had diabetes,

The government, would continue to carry out various campaigns to educate and instill awareness among the people to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Article : 2 Obesity now a major health concern in Malaysia 15 February 2010 By Alina Simon BENTONG - Malaysians' penchant for skipping breakfast and eating late, especially at night, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle is ruining their figure and health. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said obesity is becoming the major health issue with the number of obese people almost tripling in the past 15 years from four per cent in 1996 to 14 per cent in 2010. And since obesity is the gateway to other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart and kidney problems, he said the risk of more Malaysians developing these diseases will become greater in future. Liow said the ministry would soon mount a health campaign aimed at educating the public on how to prevent these chronic diseases. He said the ministry would seek help from non-governmental organisations to reach out to the people especially in villages and rural areas. "The problem with us is that Malaysians just love to eat especially late night suppers and we don't exercise. "Unlike our forefathers who woke up early and had an early and heavy breakfast and light dinner, we wake up late and often miss breakfast and even lunch. But we make it up by having a heavy late dinner. "Our forefathers did physical work and sweated it out, but we work in an office and rarely exercise. That is why obesity is becoming a problem, even among children," he said after distributing Mandarin oranges and angpows to patients during a visit to Bentong Hospital here yesterday. Liow, who is also Bentong MP, said the ministry was worried over the rise in the number of patients with chronic diseases, especially in rural areas. "When the haemodialysis machines at the hospital here were increased from four to 14, the number of patients also grew from six to 55 now. "Considering that Bentong is a small town with only a population of 140,000, the number of kidney patients is high compared to the national average of 70:100,000 population."

Earlier, Liow witnessed the handing over of three new haemodialysis machines from Radicare (M) Sdn Bh chief operating officer Halwah Abdul Manap to hospital director Datuk Dr Chandra Sekanan Raman. Liow also announced that the ministry would consider sending more medical specialists especially trauma specialists to the hospital since it handled a lot of trauma and accident cases due to its proximty to Karak Highway. He also visited the hospital's new four-storey building which is due for completion in 2012 which will house the patients' wards, emergency clinic and mortuary. OBESITY: Make sure kids play games

Mind Map: 2

Obesity now a major health concern in Malaysia

Malaysians' penchant for skipping breakfast and eating late, especially at night, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle is ruining their figure and health

Obesity is becoming the major health issue with the number of obese people almost tripling

obesity is the gateway to other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart and kidney problems

The ministry would soon mount a health campaign aimed at educating the public on how to prevent these chronic diseases

The problem with us is that Malaysians just love to eat especially late night suppers and we don't exercise.

The ministry was worried over the rise in the number of patients with chronic diseases, especially in rural areas

Article:3

A major health issue,

2010/02/12 JAMES GONZALES, Kuala Lumpur@letters@nst.com

HEALTH Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said recently that obesity was becoming a major health issue, with the number of obese people almost tripling in the past 15 years from four per cent in 1996 to 14 per cent this year. This should be a cause for concern to all of us. Among the reasons cited by the minister are that Malaysians skip breakfast and eat late, especially at night, and that they live a sedentary lifestyle, ruining their figures and health. Obesity can lead to a lot of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and kidney problems. The Health Ministry must address this concern through intensive and aggressive health campaigns aimed at educating the public. Non-governmental organisations must try to reach out to the people, especially in villages and rural areas, with the same message. Unlike their fathers and grandfathers before them, who woke up early and had an early and heavy breakfast and light dinner, Malaysians today do the reverse. Compounding the poor eating habits and lack of exercise is the excessive consumption of sugar. Our fore fathers did a lot of physical work, sweated it out, walked a lot and rode bicycles. Children these days prefer to play computer games rather than be out in the field playing football or hockey or on the court playing badminton or tennis. Perhaps, the advent of technology should be blamed for the shift in the preferences of children. Parents must ensure their children play games regularly, failing which we will be a nation of unhealthy and obese people, with health risks. We will also incur increased medical expenditure.

Mind Map:3

A major health issue

Recently that obesity was becoming a major health issue

Malaysians skip breakfast and eat late, especially at night

Obesity can lead to a lot of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and kidney problems.

concern through intensive and aggressive health campaigns aimed at educating the public

the poor eating habits and lack of exercise is the excessive consumption of sugar.

Children these days prefer to play computer games rather than be out in the field

Advent of technology should be blamed for the shift in the preferences of children

Parents must ensure their children play games regularly

Failing which we will be a nation of unhealthy and obese people, with health risks
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Article:4

Number of obese growing bigger, says Liow (Health Minister or Malaysia) Did you know About 50% of 13 million Malaysian adults could be overweight or obese? Part of the statistic includes our current Health Minister YB. Datuk Liow Tong Lai who admitted this when he revealed this figures. Read the following Article taken from The Star Sunday April 13, 2008 Number of obese growing bigger, says Liow By AUDREY EDWARDS PETALING JAYA: About 50% of 13 million Malaysian adults could be overweight or obese, a worrying trend that seems to be on the rise. Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said while the National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006 revealed that 43.1% of Malaysian adults were overweight or obese, which was double the figure from a decade ago, the numbers could have already increased since then.

Click to enlarge article

Liow blamed the disturbing situation on the lack of proper health knowledge, adding that Malaysians needed to be better informed and motivated to stay healthy, in terms of diet, physical activity, stress management and disease prevention.

He said Malaysians had also grown accustomed to an affluent lifestyle , and were more comfortable sitting at home and watching television or being in front of the computer, instead of enjoying the outdoors. For example, how many people know that losing even a modest five to 10% of their weight can result in better health? he said in his speech yesterday when launching Nutrition Month Malaysia 2008. Saying he himself was overweight, Liow said Malaysians took eating right lightly as they did not know what to eat, when to do so and how much they should consume. There is plenty to eat but unfortunately, many of us are not making wise decisions on what and how much to eat. Instead, we act on impulse, he added. With our busy lifestyles, we would rather eat out than at home, opt for fast food rather than cook at home. And too often, we spare little thought about health and the nutritional value of what we put into our tummies. Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity president Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Noor later said that about 90% of overweight and obese adults in the country were very likely to develop diabetes. What is worrying are younger people who have diabetes and are also overweight. You do not have to wait until you are 40 to have this disease. They are now as young as 25, he said. He also said if one of a persons parents was overweight or obese, the chances of his being in a similar situation was 40%. The chances increased to 80% if both parents were either overweight or obese, he added. Genetic predisposition, he said, contributed to between 10% and 15% of those who faced the weight problems.

Mind Map: 4

Number of obese growing bigger

About 50% of 13 million Malaysian adults could be overweight or obese

Liow blamed the disturbing situation on the lack of proper health knowledge,

Malaysians needed to be better informed and motivated to stay healthy, in terms of diet, physical activity, stress management and disease prevention.

Malaysians had also grown accustomed to an affluent lifestyle

There is plenty to eat but unfortunately, many of us are not making wise decisions

With our busy lifestyles, we eat fast food rather than cook at home

Younger people who have diabetes and are also overweight.

Genetic predisposition, he said, contributed to between 10% and 15% of those who faced the weight problems.

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Article: 5 Healthy Living Source from: The Star The Health Ministry will review its public awareness programmes on healthy living after Malaysia was listed sixth among Asian countries with the highest percentage of obese people, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. Liow said Malaysia was listed behind Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan in the list of Asian countries with the highest percentage of obese people. He said this was a worrying trend as Malaysians eat too much fried, oily and high fat food and not enough vegetables and fruits. The percentage of Malaysias suffering from chronic health problems like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease is rising and it will only get worse if we do not do something. I also welcome the Education Ministrys efforts to include a subject on health starting from Year 1 because it is good for young people to understand healthy living and the effect of poor eating habits from early on, he told a press conference after chairing the Food Safety and Nutrition Council meeting here yesterday. He said the meeting discussed at length the problem of obesity in the country and looked into introducing a nutrition month as well as finding ways to empower the people by giving them in-depth knowledge of healthy eating and living habits. On another matter, Liow said the Government was creating a cooperation framework that would see over 10 agencies combining their resources to keep a close lookout for the emergence of antimicrobial resistant organisms or superbugs. The Food Safety Division under my ministry is the lead agency at the national level and we have come up with a comprehensive framework to control the presence of the superbug in the food chain, he said.

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Mind Map:5

Healthy Living

Malaysia was listed sixth among Asian countries with the highest percentage of obese people,

Malaysia is a one of the Asian countries with the highest percentage of obese people

Malaysians eat too much fried, oily and high fat food and not enough vegetables and fruits.

The percentage of Malaysias suffering from chronic health problems is rising

Education Ministrys efforts to include a subject on health starting from Year 1

Good for young people to understand healthy living

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References:

1. sothisisstoryofmylife.blogspot.com/.../malaysian-health-ministry-wan..

2. http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/19/health-ministry-plans-tointroduce-anti-obesity-law-by-2020/#ixzz24qyJy1D1

3. www.standardsusers.org/.../index.php?...article&id...obesity.

4. www.thesundaily.my/news/383494

5. healthpointecoach.wordpress.com/.../number-of-obese-growing-bigg....

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