Malaysia Has Highest Obesity Rate In Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has the highest obesity rate among Southeast Asian countries and ranked sixth in Asia-Pacific region, Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said. "This is something which we should think together and to promote awareness among the people to take action to reduce sugar intake. "We view this matter seriously because excessive intake of sugar could lead to various complications including diabetes," she said in reply to a supplementary question from Dr Tan Seng Giaw, a MP at the Lower House of Parliament Monday. Rosnah said the daily sugar intake among Malaysians was too high, at 51 grammes, which is above the recommendation by the World Health Organisation, at 50 grammes. She said that of the 1,266 food samples analysed in 2009, 92 samples or 7.3 per cent were found to have too much sugar. Last year, 2,004 samples were analysed of which 108 samples or 5.4 per cent found to have excessive amount of sugar, she said. She said the government issued reminders from time to time under the Food Regulations 1985 to ensure food items are safe for consumption. -- BERNAMA