Malaysia is considered as an unhealthy country as the number of people suffering from heart disease and obesity is high, said Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said health awareness among the people was also low.

Photo via The Malaysian Reserve

According to BERNAMA, Khairy said: “If you ask me whether Malaysia is now a healthy country, my answer is ‘no.’ We are among the countries that are top in terms of obesity, heart disease.

“Among the leading causes of COVID-19 death in the country is because most of the patients have comorbidities or chronic illnesses. In Malaysia, one in every two people are obese and overweight, including myself, while one in four don’t pracetice physical activity, and one in 20 maintain healthy eating,” he added. 

Other than that, according to official statistics, half a million adults suffer from depression.

“I am confident that this is lower than the actual figure,” he said. 

Photo via Al Jazeera

He also said that Malaysians need to make a behavioural change voluntarily and increase awareness to create a healthy nation without having to rely on the Health Ministry of the government.

By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat