INTRODUCTION ON WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Section outline
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Obesity rates in Malaysia are anticipated to surge, with a World Obesity Federation report projecting that 41% of the country's adults will be obese by 2035, more than double the current rate of 19.7% from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) in 2019. This alarming trend poses significant concerns for Malaysia's healthcare system, economy, and overall population well-being. The World Health Organization defines obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and the latest data from the World Obesity Atlas 2023 indicates a "very high" annual increase in both adult and child obesity rates in Malaysia in the coming years.