Silent epidemic among urban poor

OBESITY is not just a disease of the rich. Historically, from the scarcity of food during WWII’s Japanese occupation and pre-independence of Malaya, we have moved to increasing accessibility to food thanks to technological advances in food processing and giant fast food chain investments. Now, easy access to cheap junk food has made obesity a major public health crisis, seen across all income groups not only in Malaysia but worldwide.

Obesity is a silent killer because research has shown that it can take years before its damage becomes fully evident – and, irrespective of age, being overweight or obese is strongly associated with poor health outcomes.