KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — In response to the escalating diabetes crisis gripping Malaysia, well being experts are urging the federal government to take daring motion by banning s for sugary drinks.
Highlighting the pressing want for such measures, CEO Khor Xin Yun of the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) emphasised that curbing the promotion of high-sugar drinks is important to selling more healthy existence and lowering the burden of diabetes-related ailments.
“Malaysia’s efforts to foster more healthy residing have seen coverage modifications akin to elevated taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks (SSB). Additionally, Malaysia could discover laws akin to banning s for unhealthy drinks with excessive sugar content material, akin to latest actions taken by Singapore. Alternatively, selling meals profit programmes to encourage the consumption of vegetables and fruit can also be into consideration,” she mentioned.
Khor’s sentiments echo latest actions taken by neighbouring nations like Singapore, which have applied bans on s for unhealthy drinks with excessive sugar content material. Such laws intention to mitigate the affect of selling methods that promote sugary drinks as fascinating life-style selections.
The urgency of banning sugary drink s is underscored by the alarming rise in diabetes-related ailments throughout Malaysia.
Khor mentioned that the variety of prevalent sufferers on Renal Replacement Therapy, together with haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, has elevated considerably, from 34,272 in 2013 to 53,164 in 2022.
Among these sufferers, 51,256 are at present present process dialysis remedy, with 45,045 receiving haemodialysis and 6,211 present process peritoneal dialysis (2022 figures). The projection for end-stage kidney failure instances signifies a considerable enhance, anticipated to attain 106,249 by 2040.
Additionally, the prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) instances has practically doubled from 9.07 per cent to 15.48 per cent between 2011 and 2018.
Notably, diabetes mellitus stays the first explanation for end-stage kidney failure amongst new dialysis sufferers, accounting for 52 per cent of instances, adopted by hypertension at 35 per cent.
Despite efforts such because the Kurang Manis pilot programme in Putrajaya, which inspires distributors to serve drinks with diminished sugar content material, the response from the general public has been lukewarm, with many residents unaware of the initiative.
eNews Malaysia additionally not too long ago quoted well being experts warning of an increase in sugar-related ailments in Malaysia, amidst a rising weight problems epidemic in the nation.
The prevalence of chubby amongst Malaysian adults stands at 50.1 per cent rating us among the many highest in Asean nations.
A vendor promoting candy drinks in Puchong, March 5, 2024. CEO Khor Xin Yun of the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) emphasised that curbing the promotion of high-sugar drinks is important to selling more healthy existence and lowering the burden of diabetes-related ailments. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Khor mentioned that to sort out the issue in Malaysia a whole-society method was crucial.
“In addition to public well being initiatives or campaigns, we want an all-societal method and insurance policies in addressing social determinants of well being. These are non-medical elements that affect between 30-55 per cent of well being outcomes in accordance to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“We should collaborate with a variety of stakeholders akin to neighborhood leaders, volunteers, faculties, and universities whereas utilising each digital and bodily mass media platforms to unfold consciousness and prevention efforts for diabetes,” she mentioned.
Dr S. Inthirani, chairman of Kuala Lumpur Diabetes Malaysia, emphasised that banning ads for sugary drinks is essential to complement present efforts to promote more healthy existence.
“We want to tackle the pervasive affect of promoting that glamourises sugary drinks and contributes to the normalisation of extreme sugar consumption,” famous Dr Inthirani.
“By banning such ads, we may also help shift societal norms in direction of more healthy selections and cut back the prevalence of diabetes-related ailments.”
Food business and labels
Dr Inthirani mentioned Malaysia, in contrast to neighbours Singapore, wants to study to learn labels higher. She additionally urged the federal government to cut back the value of well being merchandise and never make it unattainable.
Currently solely the wealthy can afford wholesome merchandise.
“The market is flooded with a plethora of meals choices, quite a few distributors, and a wide selection of meals, making the meals business more and more numerous and complicated, notably with stricter labelling necessities.
“But I don’t consider we’ve reached some extent the place studying labels is commonplace. While there’s some stage of training, not everybody comprehends and even reads labels. So, for meals distributors, though choices are considerable, as I at all times say, it’s costly for bizarre folks to afford such meals.”
“Neither the middle-income group nor the common individual can afford it. Consider a bottle of wholesome jam priced at RM15 in contrast to one crammed with sugar at RM5. An everyday orange juice prices RM10, whereas the sugar-free or naturally sweetened choice is RM25.
“It’s unattainable for most and solely for the rich. If they fall in poor health, they will afford remedy. So we want to enhance the variety of patrons by permitting the sellers to promote at decrease costs. Currently, sellers keep excessive costs due to their revenue margins and the restricted variety of patrons,” she mentioned.
Despite efforts such because the Kurang Manis pilot programme in Putrajaya, which inspires distributors to serve drinks with diminished sugar content material, the response from the general public has been lukewarm, with many residents unaware of the initiative. — Picture by Raymond Manuel
Khor alternatively mentioned the federal government introducing the Healthier Choice Logo (HCL) initiatives and MyChoice by Nutrition Department — a diet labelling system was a manner to encourage the producers to produce more healthy merchandise.
“These initiatives intention to urge producers to reformulate meals merchandise, inspire the meals companies business to produce more healthy meals and drinks and help the shoppers in making the best meals selections. This will create an setting that helps wholesome consuming and at last cut back the burden of non-communicable ailments in the nation,” she mentioned.
Meanwhile, Dr Sue Anne Toh of well being startup NOVI Health in Singapore concurred with Dr Inthirani in that studying labels has been part of Singapore tradition and is necessary to learn to know precisely what we’re consuming.
She mentioned she felt consciousness of diabetes and its associated ailments was growing however the info thereafter on what to do was missing.
Over in Singapore, the federal government declared struggle on diabetes again in 2016 to rally a whole-of-nation effort to cut back the diabetes burden in the inhabitants.
It at present has adopted the Siu Dai or much less sugar motion aimed toward elevating consciousness of consuming much less sugar in our drinks, as a collaboration between espresso store associations in help of the federal government’s initiative.
Dr Toh echoed Khor’s level that an all-of-society method is essential. She believes that technological improvements have a task to play in tackling rising diabetes, in addition to authorities insurance policies.
She provides that corporations akin to NOVI Health work with sufferers to develop tailored options that consider the person’s organic make-up.
“Sugar can also be current in our day by day consumption, like rice, noodles, and bread in addition to sugary drinks. Leveraging the newest tech developments helps us not solely present extra particular approaches for every affected person, but additionally empowers them to take cost in managing their well being journeys higher. Solving diabetes requires greater than a one-size-fits-all technique,” she mentioned.
