State to promote healthier living among school children next year

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COME January, school children in Perak will be the target of the state government’s all-out war against obesity.

The exercise involves wide-spread educational activities at primary and secondary schools.

State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon who announced this on Saturday warned that childhood obesity, if left unchecked, would mark the beginning of a host of health problems later in life.

“Two thirds of diseases contracted by people worldwide are non-contagious, and mostly caused by unhealthy lifestyles.

Healthy living: Dr Mah (third from left) at the opening of the World Diabetes Day dinner. Second from right is Dr Chandran.

“Obesity, which is lifestyle-related, is an invitation to many chronic diseases,” he said at the World Diabetes Day dinner organised by the Malaysian Diabetes Association (Perak branch) in Ipoh.

Dr Mah said the implementation of the exercise would require strong support from parents and non-governmental organisations

Describing the exercise as a pilot project by the state, he said the data obtained from the campaign would also be useful for further healthcare research.

A study conducted by the State Education Department last year revealed that about 43% of schoolchildren in the state were overweight.

The unflattering statistic was derived from a study carried out among schoolchildren between the ages of 10 and 17, in which they were required to undergo fitness tests and had their body mass index calculated.

Association president Datuk K. Chandran said obesity, which is mainly caused by sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets, is also a leading cause of diabetes.

Describing diabetes as a silent killer, he warned that the disease’s symptoms are not easily spotted by sufferers.

“However, delay in treatment for diabetes will lead to other major health problems,” he said.