Phone interview with SCMP on diabetes in Malaysia

When the journalist from South China Morning Post wanted to arrange a phone interview with me on a favourite health-related subject which I am doing research and my expertise and interest could offer, I just said yes. And I remember I talked to Meaghan for more than half hour on this when she called from HK and wanted to find out the situation in Malaysia.

Below are the parts she quoted me. For the record, I do praise Singapore for what they deserve. On public health and urban planning, Malaysia could learn quite a lot from them.

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// While doctors and scientists now know more about the disease than ever, their expertise has not yet translated into effective, coherent policy across the board. As a result, millions remain at risk.

“This challenge reflects what society values,” said Lim Chee Han, senior analyst at Malaysian think tank Penang Institute. “If values don’t change, how can public health change?”

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In Malaysia, where most citizens rely on public health care, the cost of diabetes is mounting. More than 3 million Malaysians have diabetes, and Lim reports Malaysia spends 16 per cent of its health care budget on treating the disease. Lim’s research identified Malaysia as the most sedentary nation in Southeast Asia.

“Malaysians really love their cars and would prefer to be in a traffic jam instead of walking,” he said.

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Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through early detection, healthy diet and exercise. But experts note the diet and exercise decisions people make are often constrained by their environment – proximity to parks, pricing of healthy food versus unhealthy food, and time off from work to cook and work out.

“Behaviour change will not just result from taxes,” Lim said. “It will also result from urban planning, advertising and government interventions in limiting the market for unhealthy food.”

For example, local officials should work together with the Ministry of Housing to build more bicycle lanes and parks.

“Comparing Malaysia with Singapore, there’s a major difference because of urban planning,” he said, noting Singapore prioritised walkability in its urban development, with better connected public transport options.

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Lim said that in Malaysia, people of all incomes are buying sugary food. His research indicated age, rather than income, determined levels of sugar consumption. Lim said the government should intervene in the market to make healthier options, such as brown rice, more affordable for consumers.

“The government needs to take concrete steps to intervene and not simply let the free market dictate food consumption,” Lim said. “Like cigarette smoking – why not do the same with junk food?” //

Original article: Death by sugar: Can South-east Asia win the war on diabetes?

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2179776/death-sugar-can-southeast-asia-win-war-diabetes