Malaysians have most obesity-related woes in South-East Asia

Star: MALAYSIA is first among South-East Asian countries with problems pertaining to obesity – Malaysians take in too much sugar and sweetener.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin told the Dewan Rakyat that a survey revealed on average each Malaysian consumed seven tablespoons of artificial sweeteners, four teaspoons of sugar and three teaspoons of condensed milk with their drinks daily.
“At 51g, the intake is too high – above recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” she replied Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP–Kepong).
“WHO’s recommendation is that a person consumes only 10% of sugar a day from their daily calories.”
Rosnah, quoting the National Health and Morbidity Survey, said the number of Malaysians diagnosed with diabetes had increased two-fold to three million in the past five years.
“In 2006, the number stood at 1.5 million,” she told Salahuddin Ayub (PAS–Kubang Kerian) during Question Time.
Rosnah noted that Malaysia ranked sixth in the Asia-Pacific region and first in South-East Asia.
“We are concerned that many have yet to go for an early diagnosis test to detect any diabetic-related health problems,” she said.
“We estimate about two million people have not received any treatment for diabetes.”
According to WHO, 346 million people worldwide have diabetes and it is projected that death caused by it would double by 2030.
Rosnah said the ministry had analysed 1,226 food samples in 2009 of which 92 (7.3%) had chemicals harmful to consumers.
She said the Government would take errant food producers who did not adhere to the Food Regulations 1985 to court.