Childhood obesity in Malaysia has doubled over 26 years, signalling a public health crisis with severe long-term health and economic consequences requiring coordinated action.

PETALING JAYA: Childhood obesity in Malaysia has doubled over the past 26 years, signalling a growing public health crisis with serious long-term health and economic consequences.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said the upward trend demands urgent, multi-sectoral action to prevent a generation of young Malaysians from carrying preventable diseases into adulthood.

Citing a recent systematic review and meta-analysis titled “Prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Malaysia”, Sharifa said childhood obesity is increasing at an annual rate of 0.3%, while excess weight prevalence rises by 0.6% each year.

“The prevalence of childhood overweight, obesity and excess weight in Malaysia has doubled over 26 years. This is alarming,” she said, describing the trend as sustained rather than a temporary spike.

She added that many overweight children would grow into adults with serious health complications, including metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, heart disease, non-communicable diseases and even early kidney failure.

“This would significantly increase the population burden of disease.

“We do not have enough doctors and specialists to handle the projected surge, which could lead to higher rates of illness, premature death and reduced productivity.”

She said the financial toll is also expected to rise, as more patients would require long-term screening, medication, dialysis and cardiac care.

She also said public hospitals may struggle to meet demand, pushing patients toward private healthcare, which many cannot afford.

“If the trend continues unchecked, some patients may forgo treatment altogether, increasing the risk of premature death.”

Sharifa said childhood obesity is driven by multiple factors:0 Increased consumption and aggressive marketing of ultra-processed foods.

0 Poor dietary patterns.

0 Sedentary lifestyles.

0 Limited physical activity in schools.

0 Insufficient sports facilities and safe recreational spaces.

0 Socioeconomic challenges and poor housing conditions.

She also highlighted emerging research linking environmental pollution, including exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics, with insulin resistance and obesity.

“Children’s living environments matter. Housing areas must provide safe, adequate spaces in which children could play actively in a healthy environment.”

She said while Malaysia has introduced measures such as the sugar tax and school canteen guidelines, the interventions are insufficient on their own.

She raised several concerns:

0 Are physical education hours in schools sufficient?

0 Are BMI screenings implemented nationwide and consistently?

0 Are affordable, healthy foods accessible to low and middle-income families?

“Some screenings occur through school health programmes and clinics, but they are not consistently applied nationwide.”

Sharifa also said the transition from childhood to adolescence often sees a drop in focus and resources, creating policy gaps that leave children at risk.

“Childhood obesity is not just a personal or family issue. It reflects systemic weaknesses in education, food security and healthcare.”

She emphasised that addressing the crisis requires coordinated action across multiple ministries, including Health, Education, and Agriculture and Food Security.

She said without decisive action, Malaysia risks a generation of young adults living with obesity and serious complications such as kidney disease, heart problems and fatty liver.

She added that children with obesity are also more likely to develop mental health issues, including depression, low self-esteem and anxiety.

Sharifa said globally, low and middle-income countries face the heaviest burden, as poorer communities have limited access to affordable, healthy food and health education.

“Improving national income levels and strengthening health literacy would be key to changing attitudes and behaviours toward healthier lifestyles.” 

 The Sun Malaysia