In Malaysia, childhood obesity is no longer a distant threat—it is a rapidly escalating crisis.

Recent data reveal that the obesity rate among children under five increased from 5.6 percent in 2019 to 6 percent in 2020.

Among adolescents aged 13 to 17, the prevalence rose alarmingly from 28.5 percent in 2017 to 30.5 percent in 2022. This means that approximately one in three Malaysian children today are overweight or obese.

This dangerous trend threatens the health of future generations and poses a massive, looming burden on Malaysia’s healthcare system.

The healthcare system: Treating symptoms instead of causes

Malaysia has made significant investments in healthcare infrastructure over the past decade.

Currently, there are about 149 Ministry of Health hospitals with nearly 46,000 beds nationwide.

Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, 170 new health facility projects are underway, backed by a RM16.47 billion budget aiming to enhance healthcare access by 2025.

Yet, politicians and local assemblymen persistently demand more hospitals in every district, focusing on expanding treatment capacity rather than addressing why these hospitals are overwhelmed in the first place.

This reactive approach is unsustainable.

The spiraling obesity rates forecast a surge in chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney failure—illnesses closely linked to obesity that will strain healthcare resources even further.

Malaysia’s food culture: The root of the problem

At the heart of this crisis lies Malaysia’s beloved food culture.

The ubiquitous 24-hour mamak restaurants offer convenience and community but serve menus dominated by calorie-dense, sugar-laden, salty, and fatty foods.

Consider staples like teh tarik, Nescafe tarik, roti canai, nasi kandar, nasi lemak, and mee goreng—none of which are healthy choices when consumed regularly.

Fast food chains such as McDonald’s and KFC exacerbate the problem by selling fried, salty, and sugary foods cooked in extremely hot oil, increasing harmful trans fats.

Malaysians consume excessive amounts of sugar, salt, and cooking oil daily, often without realizing it.

For example, a single serving of ayam goreng mamak can contain about 473 calories and 32 grams of fat, with high sodium content.

Despite this, there are no strict laws regulating sugar, salt, and oil content in food preparation.

Consumers have the freedom to choose, but without regulation or education, unhealthy eating habits dominate.

Short-term campaigns lasting a week or a month are insufficient. Instead, continuous, year-round education programs must target food vendors, restaurant associations, hawker groups, schoolchildren, and parents’ teachers’ associations to raise awareness of nutrition and its health impacts.

The untapped power of media in health education

Malaysia’s social and electronic media landscape offers a powerful platform to educate society about nutrition and healthy living.

With 25.1 million social media user identities—about 70 percent of the population—these channels can reach millions daily.

However, the current influencer ecosystem is heavily skewed toward fashion, entertainment, and religious content rather than health or nutrition.

For instance, Malaysia’s top Instagram influencers include Neelofa (8.7 million followers), Zizan Razak (7.8 million), Mira Filzah (7.2 million), and Scha Alyahya (6.5 million), all primarily focused on fashion and lifestyle.

In stark contrast, health and nutrition influencers have significantly smaller followings and less visibility.

This imbalance means crucial messages about healthy eating and exercise fail to penetrate mainstream discourse.

With influencer marketing in Malaysia projected to reach RM2 billion in 2025, and 90 percent of businesses increasing their influencer budgets, the Ministry of Health and related agencies must seize this opportunity.

Partnering with popular influencers or cultivating new health-focused advocates can amplify educational content.

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, which drive over 80 percent of social media engagement, are ideal for spreading short, impactful messages about nutrition, exercise, and disease prevention.

Promoting exercise through workplace incentives

Obesity prevention is not solely about diet; physical activity is equally vital.

Employers can play a transformative role by encouraging daily exercise among employees.

One practical approach is providing inhouse gyms or fitness facilities at workplaces.

To incentivize this, the government should introduce tax breaks or subsidies for companies that invest in employee wellness programs, including gyms, fitness classes, or wellness challenges.

Such incentives would improve employees’ health and reduce healthcare costs related to chronic diseases.

Encouraging active lifestyles at work complements nutritional education and fosters a holistic approach to combating obesity.

Yes, this is a great practice in Top Glove, Malaysia’s leading glove manufacturer. This a commendable approach and practice which must be emulated by every employer who are listed or successful. This would also augur well for their ESG Sustainability Program.

Transparency and regulation: empowering consumers

Food manufacturers and restaurants owners must be held accountable for the nutritional content of their offerings.

Clear labeling on products such as soft drinks, Milo, Nestum, baby food, instant noodles, pastries, cakes, biscuits, chocolates, curry powders, cooking oil, rice, and wheat bags should include calorific values and warnings about the health risks of overeating.

This transparency empowers consumers to make informed choices. It also pressures manufacturers to reformulate products toward healthier standards.

Without such regulations, unhealthy foods will continue to dominate the market, undermining public health efforts.

Malaysia’s childhood obesity epidemic is a ticking time bomb.

While expanding hospital infrastructure is necessary, it is not enough. The government, Ministry of Health, food manufacturers, restaurant operators, media, influencers, employers, and society at large must come together to:

1. Implement continuous, year-round nutrition education programs for food vendors, schools, and parents.

2. Enforce regulations on sugar, salt, and oil content in food preparation and require clear nutritional labeling on all packaged foods and beverages.

3. Leverage the massive reach of social and electronic media by promoting health and nutrition influencers and partnering with popular content creators to disseminate educational messages.

4. Encourage physical activity through workplace wellness incentives, including tax breaks for companies providing fitness facilities and programs.

By shifting focus from treating symptoms to addressing root causes, Malaysia can reduce the future burden on its healthcare system, safeguard the health of its children and adolescents, and build a healthier, more productive nation.

The time to act is now. The health of Malaysia’s future generations depends on it.

Politicians and policymakers must stop chasing hospital bricks and mortar alone and start investing in prevention, education, and healthier lifestyles.

Otherwise, the cost—in human lives and economic resources—will be far greater.

(Ravindran Raman Kutty is an active social worker.)