MALAYSIA is confronting a growing “double burden” of malnutrition as more than half of adults aged 18 and above—54.4 per cent—are now overweight or obese, prompting urgent calls for structural reforms in national food policies and environments.
Presenting the Parliamentary Health Select Committee’s report on Strengthening Nutrition Policies and Interventions in Malaysia in the Dewan Rakyat, committee chairman Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) highlighted alarming statistics from the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS).
He noted that 29.2 per cent of adults suffer from hypertension, 33.3 per cent have high cholesterol, and 15.6 per cent are living with diabetes mellitus.
“Nutrition issues are not merely matters of personal choice or taste. They are foundational to national health, productivity, economic development, and the future of Malaysia’s generations,” he said.
According to Suhaizan, consultations with experts, the Ministry of Health, and medical practitioners revealed that Malaysia is facing malnutrition in both forms—undernutrition and excessive intake of unbalanced diets—requiring immediate attention.
The report found that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have shifted from isolated cases to population-wide health patterns.
Some 35.9 per cent of adults exhibit metabolic syndrome, while over half a million adults are living with four concurrent NCDs: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.
Nearly 2.3 million adults reportedly live with three simultaneous NCDs, placing sustained strain on healthcare services and impacting productivity and quality of life.
In response, the committee proposed ten strategic recommendations for ministries, agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to strengthen Malaysia’s national nutrition policy.
Among these measures are full implementation of the National Nutrition Policy 3.0, enhanced fiscal mechanisms including sugar-sweetened beverage taxes and the removal of sugar subsidies redirected to public health initiatives, as well as expanded screening and management of malnutrition-related diseases in hospitals and primary care.
“Nutrition reform requires courageous policymaking and sustained commitment. If the nation fails to address the dual burden of malnutrition, including rising overweight and obesity rates, we risk leaving the next generation with a strained healthcare system and compromised human potential,” Suhaizan warned.
During debate on the report, Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) highlighted the enormous economic burden, estimating that obesity and diet-related illnesses cost the country around RM70 billion annually—nearly double the Ministry of Health’s 2026 budget of RM46.5 billion.
He suggested launching a national dietary revolution campaign, promoting the substitution of white rice with brown rice or sweet potatoes to reduce blood sugar spikes, alongside a nationwide strength-training initiative to build muscle mass.
“Strength training increases basal metabolic rate, meaning the body burns more calories even while resting. With more muscle, the body becomes more efficient at fat burning,” Chong explained.
Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) also stressed that overnutrition and dietary imbalance contribute not only to heart disease and cholesterol problems, but also to stunted growth in children.
“Comparing child stunting rates in Malaysia over the past 25 years, it has increased by 20 to 24 per cent. In contrast, countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, and the Philippines have seen declines. Malaysia alone shows an upward trend,” she said.
She urged a comprehensive government and societal approach to the issue, advocating inter-ministerial collaboration to develop more effective nutrition policies and programmes.
This parliamentary report underscores the urgent need for policy reform, public awareness, and systemic interventions to combat the rising tide of obesity and malnutrition in Malaysia. - February 25, 2026
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