KUALA LUMPUR – A doctor’s well-intentioned advice to a well-known local food content creator has incited debates on social media, with many weighing in on healthy eating practices.
Putrajaya Hospital consultant physician and nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah threw the first punch when she suggested that Khairul Aming, a popular chef who posts online videos of his recipes, share “healthier” meal plans.
Salam KhairulAming. Saya berharap masakan akan datang adalah makanan sihat. Banyak sangat minyak ni. Goreng is not good. Harap lebih peka dengan masalah rakyat Malaysia. Kita tidak mahu kesihatan makin teruk, negara makin merundum. TK. https://t.co/vIjsh4lmTV
— Dr Rafidah Abdullah (@rafidah72) April 1, 2023
Reprimanding Khairul for using “too much oil” when cooking his sambal hijau, Dr Rafidah said the chef should be more aware of health problems faced by Malaysians, saying: “We don’t want our people’s health to get worse and for the country’s health rate to fall further.”
Netizens were quick to jump to Khairul’s defence, with user @weareulatbulus calling on Dr Rafidah to divert her concern to the nutritional value of food served at the cafeterias in public hospitals.
Unfair la mcm ini Doc. Sembang tentang masalah rakyat Malaysia ini, pernah doc survey cafeteria2 hospital kerajaan jual makanan yang bagaimana? Kalah level minyak & gula dalam makanan KA ini. Kalau cafeteria hospital sendiri tak boleh sajikan makanan sihat jgn hukum orang awam.
— Walaun Priest (@weareulatbulus) April 1, 2023
“This is unfair Dr. Have you surveyed the meals sold in government hospitals’ cafeterias? The level of oil and sugar in their food is way more than what Khairul uses in his cooking.
“If even hospital cafeterias cannot serve healthy food, don’t punish the public,” he said.
His comment was backed by several other users, who shared their grievances with the lack of nutrition in the cuisine at public hospitals.
User @hanassisays said Khairul’s videos depict simple and affordable recipes, since his content is usually targeted towards unmarried individuals with average incomes and demanding jobs.
“A healthy plate of food is a hassle and very costly. Even the prices of vegetables have gone up. People feel burdened (by increased price rates),” she said.
This was echoed by user @NadsMarhaen, who said that poor health outcomes are more strongly correlated with socioeconomic inequities and public health policies than private choices.
A few users, such as @dbgermane, highlighted how certain diet proponents have a tendency to frame local food as being “unhealthy”, despite how the cuisine can be made nutritious and supportive of health goals.
Other users also informed the doctor that while Khairul’s recipes for Ramadan on his main Instagram page might not fit her tastes, the chef has a separate account where he shares healthier meal plans as well as updates on his weight loss journey.
The page, however, was last updated about two years ago, causing some to assert that healthy cooking methods and fitness advocacy are not as well received by the public compared with easy recipes.
Despite the criticism levelled at her, Dr Rafidah had her own share of supporters, with some users chiming in to say that the doctor’s intentions were well placed, albeit poorly executed.
“I agree with you Dr but I think that this is not the right time. It’s a bit sudden, you’re not wrong but the timing is off,” said Twitter user by the name of @MrL961.
Similarly, user @Rainism08 pointed out that as a healthcare practitioner, Dr Rafidah is sure to have the people’s interests in mind, saying: “She must know the statistics of ailments faced by Malaysians, which is why she chided (Khairul).”
In a subsequent explanation video, Khairul opened up about his struggle with losing weight, recalling how extreme restrictions on his food intake caused him to develop a binge eating disorder, which saw him rapidly regaining the weight he had lost.
Thank you kepada semua yang bagi feedback mengenai minyak masak dalam masakan, I will take note for improvement ??. If you dont mind, I want to share my perspective on this issue, especially coming from me as an obese Malaysian and also a food content creator: pic.twitter.com/OGQgBjqbvP
— Khairulaming (@khairulaming) April 2, 2023
He also said his videos are meant to showcase to his viewers the reality of food prepared at eateries so people are aware of ingredients that go into the dishes. – The Vibes, April 7, 2023
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