Malaysians snacking all the way to obesity

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IN A country that takes great pride in its various cuisines, the art of eating has always been an imperative part of the “Malaysian experience” and snacking, a national pastime.

Local nutritionist Shang Jeen said our unhealthy eating habits are also a prime reason why some 70,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in Malaysia.

“We’ve lost the ability to regulate our caloric intake based on our internal hunger cues, and we tend to respond to our emotional and environmental cues which result in heavy snacking,” said Shang in an interview with theSun recently.

For most Malaysians, meeting up with friends and families means indulging in food and drink at restaurants or stalls.

Then there are those mamak eateries and food courts which serve affordable delicious but sinful fare till the wee hours of the night or even 24 hours, or the numerous kuih (cake) stalls with their array of sugar-laden delights.

Shang described snacking as consuming food in “lighter proportions in between the three major meals”, adding that most Malaysians tend to lean towards unhealthy food choices to snack on.

She said snacking itself is not a bad habit but it is the type of food that could become problematic to our bodies.

Many of us may think that snacking on a bar of chocolate, packet of nuts or a couple of curry puffs is harmless but, as Shang pointed out, “whether it is local kuih, sandwiches, cakes, ice cream or pastries, snacking on high-calorie, highly-processed food which are usually widely available and taste good can result in an epidemic of diet-related diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases”.

In a survey carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last year, Malaysia was ranked sixth among Asian countries with a high adult obesity rate. The survey is done once every 10 years since 1986.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, when announcing the results of the survey last December, had said that 60% of Malaysians aged 18 and above had a body mass index (BMI) of over 25, which is considered overweight. The minister attributed rising obesity to Malaysians’ poor eating habits.

Shang said snacking on healthy food can be helpful in maintaining a balanced diet. Her recommendations are high-fibre biscuits, whole grain bread or even a banana milk shake without added sugar.

Munchy’s marketing general manager Edward Chan recommends the company’s Wheat Krunch or Oat Krunch biscuits as snacks.

Shang said snacks can give children the energy boost they need in between meals while for pregnant women, snacking can thwart indigestion and heartburn.

Healthy snacks are also recommended for diabetics as they help to maintain their blood sugar level.

Shang recommends snacking three times a day – a light healthy snack mid-morning, mid-afternoon and before dinner.

“To determine how much of snacks you can consume each day, first establish what your total daily caloric intake should be. About 15% of that total can come from the snacks you consume,” she said.