PUTRAJAYA: A total of 59.2% of workers who underwent the Health Screening Programme organised by the Social Security Organisation (Socso) between 2023 and 2025 were found to be overweight or obese, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
He said the findings also showed that about 19% of them had diabetes, while 17.45% suffered from high blood pressure.
He said the analysis further revealed that about 59.24% of those screened had high cholesterol levels, with the risk profile mainly involving workers aged 40 to 59.
"We need to realise that the pre-retirement phase is a productive period, but at the same time, it is also a critical period for the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
"In fact, the Health Ministry has also disclosed that only 14.7% of senior citizens in Malaysia are currently able to achieve healthy ageing," he said when launching the Socso Run and Ride 2026 programme in conjunction with Workers' Day 2026 here on Sunday (May 17).
Also present Human Resources Ministry deputy secretary-general (Policy and International), who is carrying out the duties of the ministry’s secretary-general, Dr Mohd Shaharin Umar; Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Rahimi Ismail; Socso chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal; and Socso Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
Khairul Firdaus also voiced concern over cancer, which remains the third leading cause of death among Malaysians and is now increasingly affecting younger people.
He urged greater awareness of the dangers of NCDs and advised workers not to take the risks lightly, while encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.
On the Socso Run and Ride 2026, Khairul Firdaus said the programme had shown positive momentum, with today's participation rate indicating that participants in their 40s and 50s made up nearly 30% of the total turnout.
"This is a very encouraging development and I hope all workers, regardless of age, will continue to embrace a healthy lifestyle.
"This is because workers' health is a key determinant of our productivity and indirectly influences socio-economic sustainability," he said.
The ninth edition of the Socso Run and Ride 2026 recorded its largest participation to date, with 12,000 participants joining the programme, reflecting KESUMA's support in driving collective lifestyle changes. – Bernama
