Malaysians face danger of serious NCD if they do no lead healthy lifestyle

Malaysians are facing danger of dying from serious non-communicable diseases (NCD) if they do not practise a healthy, due to the luxury of life they are enjoying now.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said NCD had been regarded a global pandemic.

He said that based on a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008, 63 per cent of the 57 million deaths due to diseases worldwide was because of NCD.

From studies conducted by the Health Ministry, it was found that 1.7 million Malaysians aged 18 and above were obese because they did not lead a healthy lifestyle, he told reporters after opening a health carnival at Kampung Air Terjun here today.

He said the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) conducted in 2011 showed that the prevalence of diabetes among Malaysians increased to 15.2 per cent, from 11.6 per cent in 2006.

Hypertension among adults also increased from 32.2 per cent in 2006 to 32.7 per cent two year ago, he added. "The prevalence of obesity also increased by three-folds, from 4.4 per cent in 1996 to 15.1 per cent in 2011, likewise on the prevalence of smoking, it increased to 24.7 per cent in 2011, from 21.5 per cent in 2006," he added.

Hence, he advised the people to live a healthy lifestyle by not smoking cigarettes, eat healthy food and to exercise.

Dr Hilimi said the Health Ministry was planning to get the cooperation of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to air "Medik TV", currently screened in hospitals, on its television channels.

The ministry, he said, would also seek the cooperation of the relevant departments and agencies, including the Social Development Department, to provide information to the public on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.