Malaysians are an unhealthy bunch, if the latest national health survey is any indication.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam told The New Straits Times‘ Azura Abas, that non-communicable diseases are on the rise among adult Malaysians.
The latest National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015 results, said Subramaniam, revealed that 17.5 per cent of those aged 18 and above (3.5 million total) have diabetes.
In addition to that, one in three (30 per cent) or about 6.1 million people reportedly suffer from hypertension.
But more alarmingly, almost half of the population (47.7 per cent), or about 9.6 million people, have high blood cholesterol level.
“It is very worrying that more than half of population have diabetes and hypertension and four out of five (80 per cent) people with high blood cholesterol level were unaware of their health conditions,” Subramaniam was quoted as saying.
He also added that the obesity rate among Malaysians was also on the increase; about 17.7 per cent (3.3 million) of all adults are categorised as obese, with one out of three being overweight.
According to the report, the survey also revealed that 94 per cent of Malaysian adults do not eat enough fruits and vegetables.
Reader Interactions