Childhood Obesity in Malaysia: Causes, Effects, and Prevention Strategies
07 May 2019
The Growing Problem of Childhood Obesity in Malaysia
Childhood obesity is a significant problem in Malaysia, where the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has been on the rise. According to a UNICEF report in 2019, 12.7% of children between the ages of 5 and 19 in Malaysia are obese, and the country faces the threat of a double burden of stunting and obesity. Obesity in childhood has been identified as a problem in many affluent societies, particularly in countries where children consume unhealthy foods, snacks or beverages every day.
Causes of Childhood Obesity in Malaysia
Some children start out as picky eaters. But being a picky eater often is part of what it means to be in their development stage. Studies showed that picky eating happened in 5 out of 10 normal children and more prevalent in children with developmental delay or special needs. However, only 20% of children have some type of feeding or growth issues. A child may still grow well even if he/she doesn’t eat well.
Common characteristics of picky eaters include eating most of the calories from snacks instead of main meals, limited food choices, unable to recognize hunger or fullness and only small portion of them presented with some growth limitation. A dietitian can assist parents in addressing issues of picky eating by assessing the child’s current diet and developing action plan which help parents provide the structure, support and opportunities for their children to eat nutritious foods and improve their nutritional status.
In conclusion, feeding children with nutritious foods not only important to support their growth and development but also to establish lifelong healthful eating habits. This requires dedications and continuous efforts. It should always best to start young.
Obesity has been identified as an epidemic according to the Centre of Disease control and Prevention centre. The rate of obesity and unhealthy body weight has tripled since 1980 to 15%. Good media coverage has been given to raise awareness among the public on the rising health threats due to obesity. According to World Health Organisation, the number of overweight or obese infants and young children (aged 0 to 5 years) increased from 32 million globally in 1990 to 42 million in 2013 and if this trend continues it is likely to go up to 70 million by 2025.
In Malaysia, 20.7% of children under five suffer from stunting and 11.5% from wasting. These nutritional issues are usually caused by children not eating the right food or enough of the right foods. Thus, it is essential to address these issues through education and awareness programs to promote healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle among children.
Over weight and obesity is defined as a result of caloric imbalance – too few calories expended for the amount consumed and this could be due to either genetic, behaviour or environmental factors. There is no single factor that could cause childhood obesity. Some experts blame it on the high consumption of sweetened beverages and high fat snacks with low nutritional value while others lament on the low physical activity among all age groups but in reality it is a combination of both these issues. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long term effects on health. Obese youth are at risk of having cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, a condition where high levels of blood glucose could be a predisposing factor to become a diabetic in later years of life. Children and adolescents who are obese also pose a greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
Preventing Childhood Obesity in Malaysia: Tips for Parents
As with any health issue, prevention is the key and we should all join hands to create a healthful environment for our children. The first step will be to rope in the caregivers and grandparents to teach the children how to eat right. Healthy life style like being physically active and healthy eating habits should be inculcated right from the beginning and could definitely lower the risk of being obese. A study showed that children who eats or snacks in front of TV or computers are likely to eat more and therefore it is important to promote conscious eating by switching off all these devices and focus on eating together as a family. Children learns through observation and imitation and adults should be good role models. Limit a child’s consumption of sweetened beverages; eat plenty of fruits and vegetables instead, and most importantly focus on the portion size as appropriate for the age and lastly limit dining out especially at fast food restaurants. Dietary and physical activity behaviour of children are also influenced by many sectors of the society like childcare settings, medical care providers, government agencies, media, food and beverage and entertainment industries. Schools in particular should act as a platform for children to adopt healthy eating and physical activity behaviours by providing a safe and supportive environment with policies and practices that support healthy behaviours.
Childhood obesity has become a common problem in today’s society due to behaviour and dietary changes. The problem could be managed with adequate support and guidance program provided by both parents and school in averting future health complications due to excessive weight. So to stay healthy, start a healthy life style and get active- START YOUNG.
