MUET READING : TRUE / FALSE / NOT STATED

Malaysians Most Obese in Southeast Asia

Adult Prevalence in some Asian Countries

(overweight + obesity)
50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Malaysia Thailand Singapore Taiwan Japan Philipines Indonesia Vietnam

1 The recent measure of the New York City Board of Health to ban the sale of large sugary soft drinks has
turned the attention to a global problem: Obesity is on the rise, and also in Southeast Asia, where growing
wealth makes people fatter.

2 Among Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia is the one with the highest rate of obese people, who are
defined as having a body-mass-index* higher than 27.5. One in six Malaysians are either overweight or 5
obese, according to the Malaysian Health Ministry. And the prevalence of obese people is still on the
upward trend, says Datin Paduka Santha Kumari, chairman of the Selangor branch of the Malaysian
Diabetes Association. “Malaysia is leading in the prevalence of obesity among Southeast Asian countries.
Almost one in two Malaysians are either overweight or obese, placing them at a high risk for diabetes,”
Kumari said.

3 A recent study showed that 22 per cent of Malaysians above the age of 30 were also diabetic patients. 10
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Sirlin said: “We view this matte seriously because an
excessive intake of sugar could lead to various complications including diabetes.” According to the study,
the daily sugar intake among Malaysians was too high, at 51 grammes, which is above the World Health
Organisation recommendation of 50 grammes. Interestingly, university studies revealed that women in
Malaysia were statistically more obese than men, with a higher rate among Indian and Malay women 15
compared to Chinese women.

4 Globally, South East Asia and the Western Pacific region are currently facing an epidemic of diseases
associated with obesity such as diabetes. India has the highest number of people with diabetes in the world
and China occupies the second position. Systemic national data on prevalence of obesity is not available
from any Asian country, Wide differences exist in its prevalence. 20
5 According to WHO statistics, Thailand has the second largest number of obese people in Southeast Asia
despite the traditional and generally healthy diet of rice, fish, chicken and vegetables in the country. This
food mix has not disappeared but is seriously threatened by the availability of snacks and “convenience”
food. It should also be noted that Thais, along with other Asian nations, prefer higher-calory white rice as
opposed to the more healthy brown types. 25

6 In many developing regions in South Asia and Asia-Pacific, both obesity and undernutriton coexist
mainly due to wide socioeconomic disparities. An example of an Asian country with both undernutrition
and overnutrition paradox is the Philippines. While more than 30 per cent of preschool and school children
were underweight, less than 1 per cent are overweight. However, more than 15 per cent of adults suffer
from obesity. The relationship between obesity and poverty is complex. In the world’s poorest countries, 30
poverty is associated with malnutrition and underweight whereas, in middle income countries, it is
associated with an increased risk of obesity.

7 Unlike in the US, where fast food is perceived as time-saving and cheap and often the preferred meal of
the working poor, in Asia places like Burger King and Pizza Hut are the fare of choice for those with
dispensable incomes. For a regular factory worker in Vietnam who makes around $5 a day, eating at KFC is 35
completely out of the question. For those who can afford to eat at one of Pizza Hut’s air-conditioned
restaurants in a shopping mall in Hanoi or Saigon, eating is part of the experience. The other part is equally,
if not more, important: Consuming American fast food is the proof of one’s economic status in the world.

9 In Vietnam, while 28 per cent of rural children suffer from malnutrition, according to the country’s
National Institute of Nutrition, 20 per cent from urban areas suffer from the opposite, obesity. 40

1 The prevalence of obesity is seriously on the rise these days in Malaysia.

A True B False C Not stated

2 There is an increase in the prevalence of obesity in Malaysia due to westernization, coupled with
reduction of physical activity.
A True B False C Not stated

3 The Malaysian Health Ministry asserts that about 17% Malaysians are at high risk for diabetes.
A True B False C Not stated

4 It is difficult for Malaysians not to be obese because they eat food that is high in fat.
A True B False C Not stated

5 There is a significant correlation between obesity and poverty.

A True B False C Not stated

6 Vietnamese eat fast food as it is cheap and convenient.

A True B False C Not stated

7 The initial approach to combat obesity would be lifestyle modification.

A True B False C Not stated