Kuala lumpur: A total of 59.2 per cent of workers who participated in the Health Screening Programme organized by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) between 2023 and 2025 were found to be overweight or obese, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan announced. He highlighted that the findings also showed a concerning prevalence of diabetes and high blood pressure among workers, with about 19 per cent and 17.45 per cent affected, respectively.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the analysis further revealed that approximately 59.24 per cent of those screened had high cholesterol levels. The risk profile predominantly involved workers aged between 40 and 59. Khairul Firdaus emphasized the importance of the pre-retirement phase, describing it as both a productive and critical period for the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He noted that the Health Ministry reported only 14.7 per cent of senior citizens in Malaysia currently achieve healthy aging.

Khairul Firdaus expressed concerns over cancer, which remains the third leading cause of death among Malaysians, now increasingly affecting younger individuals. He urged greater awareness of the dangers of NCDs and advised workers to not take these risks lightly, encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.

On the SOCSO Run and Ride 2026, Khairul Firdaus noted that the program had shown positive momentum, with participants in their 40s and 50s making up nearly 30 per cent of the total turnout. He described this as an encouraging development and emphasized the importance of workers adopting a healthy lifestyle, as it is a key determinant of productivity and socio-economic sustainability.

The ninth edition of the SOCSO Run and Ride 2026 recorded its largest participation to date, with 12,000 participants joining the program, reflecting KESUMA's support in driving collective lifestyle changes.