By Steven Chin
Steven Chin, senior director and general manager, Herbalife Nutrition Malaysia and Singapore
As Malaysia continues to develop, the urgency of reforming our healthcare system becomes crystal clear. The nation’s aspirations require a paradigm shift – moving from a reactive healthcare model to one rooted in prevention and promotion. This transformation highlights the importance of preventive nutrition and how it can benefit the well-being of Malaysians.
Over the past two decades, Malaysia has grappled with an alarming surge in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are today among the leading causes of death and health issues. The recent Mid-Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan emphasises the need to enhance prevention and early management of diseases, especially NCDs, in order to improve health outcomes.
Further to this, the Health White Paper for Malaysia by the Ministry of Health (MOH) highlights obesity as a clear indicator of NCD prevalence, as Malaysia is reported as having the highest obesity rates in Southeast Asia.
The dire situation our nation is in calls for urgent and proactive measures in tackling NCD risk factors, including unhealthy eating habits, smoking, stress, and sedentary lifestyles.
Indeed, the pandemic did spark a mind-set shift amongst Malaysians towards taking better care of their health. This is demonstrated by the findings from Herbalife’s recent Asia Pacific Health Priority Survey, with 79% of Malaysian respondents becoming more health-conscious following the pandemic, with a focus on developing healthier lifestyles.
Equal attention must also be paid to mental health. Herbalife’s survey reported that a significant 50% of Malaysian respondents identified mental health as one of their top three health goals. Among the factors contributing to mental health challenges range from financial constraints to workplace pressures.
With a collective approach, Malaysians could benefit from a robust support network for those grappling with mental health concerns. Supporting this, the Mid-Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan has cited the establishment of a National Mental Health Institute. Recognising the importance of mental health, Herbalife continues to promote mental wellbeing among its community of members through support groups that look at holistic wellness.
Malaysia’s aging population is another facet of the evolving healthcare landscape, as the population of citizens aged 65 and above has reached the United Nations’ 7% threshold for an ageing nation. With an expected demographic shift towards an ‘aged’ society, the focus must be on enhancing quality of life for our senior citizens.
Preventive healthcare is important not just for its immediate benefits but also to help with the issues faced by our aging population. Collaborative endeavours as well as uniting governmental and non-governmental stakeholders play a pivotal role in nurturing healthier mindsets and lifestyles.
Towards this end, Herbalife looks forward to playing our part through the programmes we have in place. Our Herbalife members are active advocates of healthy active lifestyles and run various community-based programmes to help their customers achieve their wellness goals. In addition, our CASA Herbalife Nutrition Programme which has been partnering with charity homes in the country since 2012 aims to improve nutrition literacy among underprivileged children.
The success in the shift towards a healthier future is a collective effort. More awareness, more education, more engagement – that is what Herbalife is focused on to contribute to this transformative journey. By fostering healthier communities, we are committed to doing our part to support Malaysia’s health revolution.
* The views expressed herein are strictly the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of YamCha Time.
