Saturday October 29, 2011
Rosnah: We have highest number of obese people in region
By FARIK ZOLKEPLI
HULU TERENGGANU: Malaysians are the fattest in Southeast Asia and the Health Ministry is determined to lose that “honour”.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid said Malaysia had the highest number of obese citizens in the region.
“This is very worrying as the country is also ranked sixth among Asian countries,” she said after launching the Cakna Kesihatan programme at Kampung Pasir Nering here yesterday.
Health conscious: Rosnah undergoing a medical checkup during the launch of the Cakna Kesihatan programme at Kampung Pasir Nering in Hulu Terengganu Friday. “One of the main contributors is our inactive lifestyle, whereby 43.7% of those above 18 years of age are not exercising.”
Rosnah said her ministry had set a target to reduce 30% of the weight for those classified as obese nationwide.
“We'll do this through efforts such as introducing a calorie guideline in schools as well as instilling healthy lifestyle habits among university students.
“Studies conducted have revealed obesity is common among urban people, given the high number of fast food outlets located in towns and cities.
“We are also organising various health checkups through the respective health departments nationwide to ensure that the people can gauge their health levels,” she said.
Rosnah said 60% of deaths worldwide were due to non-communicable disease and obesity was a type of NCD.
“Such deaths can be prevented if only people would take charge of their lives,” she said.
“It is not hard to exercise, thus the ministry has introduced the 10,000 steps a day programme.”
Ask the pharmacist
1) I agree there are many people who do not exercise and thus become fat. That including me, as my business is just too time consuming (long hours sitting in the shop). I barely have much time to exercise except on Sunday.
2) I think i am slightly overweight but not obese yet. Many of my friends too have increase weight after joining retail business.
3) If you yourself don't exercise, you don't have the right to ask others to exercise.It is just something like a smoker father asking the son to quit smoking. Imagine a fatter /obese person telling you to start exercise because you are fat.
Will it work? How about she? Do you think "she" ever exercise? :)
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid said Malaysia had the highest number of obese citizens in the region.
“This is very worrying as the country is also ranked sixth among Asian countries,” she said after launching the Cakna Kesihatan programme at Kampung Pasir Nering here yesterday.
Health conscious: Rosnah undergoing a medical checkup during the launch of the Cakna Kesihatan programme at Kampung Pasir Nering in Hulu Terengganu Friday.Rosnah said her ministry had set a target to reduce 30% of the weight for those classified as obese nationwide.
“We'll do this through efforts such as introducing a calorie guideline in schools as well as instilling healthy lifestyle habits among university students.
“Studies conducted have revealed obesity is common among urban people, given the high number of fast food outlets located in towns and cities.
“We are also organising various health checkups through the respective health departments nationwide to ensure that the people can gauge their health levels,” she said.
Rosnah said 60% of deaths worldwide were due to non-communicable disease and obesity was a type of NCD.
“Such deaths can be prevented if only people would take charge of their lives,” she said.
“It is not hard to exercise, thus the ministry has introduced the 10,000 steps a day programme.”
Ask the pharmacist
1) I agree there are many people who do not exercise and thus become fat. That including me, as my business is just too time consuming (long hours sitting in the shop). I barely have much time to exercise except on Sunday.
2) I think i am slightly overweight but not obese yet. Many of my friends too have increase weight after joining retail business.
3) If you yourself don't exercise, you don't have the right to ask others to exercise.It is just something like a smoker father asking the son to quit smoking. Imagine a fatter /obese person telling you to start exercise because you are fat.
Will it work? How about she? Do you think "she" ever exercise? :)
