300 NUTRITION EXPERTS TO BATTLE OBESITY NATIONWIDE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) -- Three hundred nutrition experts will
have a 'fight' on their hands when they are sent to selected government health
clinics nationwide this year.

Their mission: To counsel the public on healthy lifestyle and eating habits
to prevent obesity.

Deployed by the health ministry, 51 nutrition experts would initially be
placed at those clinics, followed by the rest, in stages.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the move was to upgrade the
service provided at government clinics, including the 1Malaysia clinics.

He said the Malaysian Council for Obesity Prevention (Mcom), which he
launched
at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today, would work closely with the
government to prevent obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle among the public.

He said that was the 13-member council's social responsibility, adding that
the initiative to deploy the nutrition experts to selected government clinics
was aimed at curbing the rising percentage of those overweight and obese.

Obesity among Malaysians had increased by 70 per cent in 2006, as compared
to
10 years earlier, observed the health minister.

Liow said among the factors which contributed to the increase were the
changes in eating habits and lifestyle.

"Back then, people only ate twice a day. Now, most people eat up to five
times a day, including late supper at 'mamak' stalls.

"Today's children are hardly seen playing outside because they prefer to
stay at home and play with their 'Playstation'.

"This will definitely contribute to the overweight and obesity problems in
the long run," he added.

-- BERNAMA