Exercise, Kelantan folks told

Star: KOTA BARU: Walk or cycle – in other words, exercise more. This was the advice given to Kelantanese to fight obesity and diabetes.
National Diabetes Institute (Nadi) permanent member Datuk Prof Mustaffa Embong said Kelantanese should adopt a healthier lifestyle in view of a recent study which found the state to have one of the highest diabetes rates in the country.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia study found that 18% of Kelantanese were suffering from diabetes, compared with the national average of 14% to 15%.
Prof Mustaffa suggested that besides walking or cycling to the mosque and other places, people should also wash their own vehicles, do more gardening and use the stairs instead of lifts.
He noted that Kelantanese cuisine was high in fat, and urged the people to maintain a healthy diet.
Obesity, he added, could lead to diabetes.
He was speaking after attending a two-day Nadi nationwide roadshow at KB Mall here.
According to Nadi, more than 1.6 million adult Malaysians are diabetic.
Prof Mustaffa also advised people to have regular health check-ups.
“Diabetes can be treated but not cured. Prevention is better,” he said.