News from Around the World: Malaysia’s Diabetes Time-Bomb

Malaysia has the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in South-East Asia. In the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, 50.1 percent of our adult population was reported to be overweight (30.4 percent) or obese (19.7 percent).

Writing in the ‘Malaysian Star’ publication, Professors Dr Moy Foong Ming and Dr Noran Naqiah Hairi and Dr Wan Kim Sui from the Centre for Epidemiology at the University of Malaya, warn that compared with individuals of normal weight, obesity increases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes sevenfold in men and 12-fold in women.

They are concerned that Asian populations are predisposed to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at lower than usual body mass index while the economic costs of these diseases are enormous. The conservative estimate of diabetes and cardiovascular disease was RM70.1bill in 2017, equivalent to 5.1% of Malaysia’s gross domestic product that year.

Worldwide evidence shows that diabetes is happening at younger ages, ie, below 40 years old. One of the main causes of this is rising obesity. Youth-onset diabetes is associated with a more aggressive form of the disease and higher risks of complications.

Equally worrying is that a considerable number of female diabetes patients are still in reproductive ages. Poor blood sugar control during pregnancy is related to adverse outcomes for both mothers and babies. Moreover, the children born to these mothers are at higher risks of childhood obesity and youth-onset diabetes later on in life. This will perpetuate the high diabetes prevalence in Malaysia.

The rising prevalence of obesity, coupled with the substantial economic costs of its associated diseases means that the situation will worsen if the obesity epidemic is not urgently tackled. It is not just about physical appearance. It is a disease that could give rise to other NCDs.

Advocacy Action: Obesity and its complications can be discouraged through promoting healthier eating and regular exercise. Improved public health education and information. Improved sports facilities and better food and drink labelling. What action is being taken by your Government?