Kuala lumpur: More than 254,000 Malaysian adults have been identified as obese under the National Health Screening Initiative (NHSI) this year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He stated that screenings involving 1.2 million adults nationwide, conducted up to September 2025, revealed that 30.9 percent were obese, while another 30.8 percent were overweight.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Health Minister emphasized that this finding serves as a wake-up call, indicating obesity is not merely a lifestyle issue but a pressing public health challenge. He highlighted the necessity for early detection, intervention, and a shift in public perception during his closing remarks at the My Best Me Obesity Awareness Campaign.

The 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey showed that 54.4 percent of Malaysian adults were overweight or obese, marking a 22 percent increase since 2011. Dzulkefly noted the higher risks associated with obesity, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer, which collectively account for over 70 percent of deaths in Malaysia. He also pointed out the significant economic impact, costing the nation more than RM64 billion annually through healthcare expenses, productivity losses, and premature mortality.

Dzulkefly stressed the importance of ending the stigma surrounding obesity, noting that affected individuals are often unfairly judged as lacking willpower instead of being recognized as facing a genuine health condition. He called for a narrative shift from blame to understanding and from judgment to support, ensuring those affected receive accurate information, timely care, and compassion.

The Health Ministry is set to introduce integrated clinical obesity management at the primary healthcare level, beginning with 10 health clinics and expanding in phases. The initiative will include structured referral pathways, multidisciplinary teams, and trained personnel. Dzulkefly mentioned the shift towards a more integrated approach, incorporating pharmacological treatment and, where appropriate, surgical options to manage obesity as a chronic condition.

He concluded by stating that combating obesity requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, with non-governmental organizations, academia, industry, and communities playing vital roles.