ID :
175995
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 05:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/175995
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Compulsory For Teachers To Record Body Mass Index Of Students
PETALING JAYA (Bernama) - To curb obesity among Malaysians, the government is making it compulsory for teachers to record the body mass index (BMI) of students for the attention of parents.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said, lack of awareness among parents on their child's BMI led to their inability to control their dietary habits, and whether their child was at an ideal weight or obese.
"With this move, should children have a weight problem, their parents could obtain advice from the nearest clinic on how to achieve the ideal weight," he told reporters after officiating the Advisory Panel to Government Clinics (PPKK)Convention Closing Ceremony and launch of the PPKK 2010-2013 member card here Sunday.
Besides that, he said that with immediate effect, the prohibition of junk food containing excess sugar and salt, as well as soft drinks, had been enforced in school canteens.
"Hawkers in school premises are also not allowed to sell such snacks to pupils," he said.
The move was agreed upon in a committee meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on April 4, in a bid to start a healthier lifestyle.
This followed after Malaysia ranked as the sixth Asian country with the highest number of obese adults.
"A study by the health ministry estimates about 1.7 million Malaysians aged 18 and above, are obese, and this figure is worrying because it also increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer," said Liow.
Meanwhile, in his speech, the health minister said the country was plagued with non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes, which ranks first in the top 10 list for hospitalisation and deaths in government hospitals.
"Lack of exercise, cigarettes and exposure to foods with high calorie and salt content contribute to threats of NCD. There are about 1.5 million Malaysians who have diabetes and 4.8 million who suffer from hypertension," he added.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said, lack of awareness among parents on their child's BMI led to their inability to control their dietary habits, and whether their child was at an ideal weight or obese.
"With this move, should children have a weight problem, their parents could obtain advice from the nearest clinic on how to achieve the ideal weight," he told reporters after officiating the Advisory Panel to Government Clinics (PPKK)Convention Closing Ceremony and launch of the PPKK 2010-2013 member card here Sunday.
Besides that, he said that with immediate effect, the prohibition of junk food containing excess sugar and salt, as well as soft drinks, had been enforced in school canteens.
"Hawkers in school premises are also not allowed to sell such snacks to pupils," he said.
The move was agreed upon in a committee meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on April 4, in a bid to start a healthier lifestyle.
This followed after Malaysia ranked as the sixth Asian country with the highest number of obese adults.
"A study by the health ministry estimates about 1.7 million Malaysians aged 18 and above, are obese, and this figure is worrying because it also increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer," said Liow.
Meanwhile, in his speech, the health minister said the country was plagued with non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes, which ranks first in the top 10 list for hospitalisation and deaths in government hospitals.
"Lack of exercise, cigarettes and exposure to foods with high calorie and salt content contribute to threats of NCD. There are about 1.5 million Malaysians who have diabetes and 4.8 million who suffer from hypertension," he added.
