OBESITY IN MALAYSIA

Prevalence of Obesity in Malaysia

[Name of the Institute]

Introduction1

Discussion2

Obesity2

Association of Lifestyle with Prevalence of Obesity in Malaysia3

Physical Activity4

Effects of Obesity on the Quality of Life of the Malaysian Population5

Application of Theory for Dealing with Obesity in Malaysian Population6

Interventions for Reducing the Prevalence of Obesity in Malaysia7

Importance of Decision Making9

Recommendations for Nursing Practice9

Conclusion10

References12

Prevalence of Obesity in Malaysia



Introduction

Obesity is a major health concern in both the developing and the developed countries. The prevalence of obesity is significantly high throughout the world and Malaysia is also included in those countries which are dealing with this problem. There is an increased prevalence of obesity in Malaysia contributing to the healthcare burden. The prevalence of obesity is high among the women in Malaysia as compared to men since the prevalence rate in Malaysian women is 33.6% while in men it is 19.5%. There is also an increased prevalence of obesity among the Malaysian population aged less than 30 years, as 43% of this population is obese (Mohamud et al, 2011, p. 35).

Prevalence of obesity is high not only among the general population but also among the population which belongs to the field of healthcare. Obesity has been observed in 5.2% of the Malaysian medical students with a BMI of greater than 30 kg/m2. Among this population the highest rate of obesity was present in males accounting for prevalence of 9.2% while 1.9% in females (Gopalakrishnan et al, 2012, p. 442). The increased prevalence of obesity in Malaysia has resulted in the development of concern among the healthcare professionals. Several initiatives have been taken to reduce the prevalence of obesity in Malaysia. These initiatives are based on the identification of the factors that are contributing to the increase of obesity among the population of Malaysia. Lifestyle has been observed to be one of the important factors that have contributed to the prevalence of obesity in Malaysian population. Development in the field of technology has caused an increase in obesity by reducing physical activities. Therefore, it is essential to address this particular healthcare concern to overcome this problem. PREVALENCE OF OBSEITY IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES Source: Retire-to-Paradise (2011) Overweight or Obese Statistics, p. 1. Retrieved from: http://www.retire-to-paradise.com/overweight-or-obese.html on 30th March, 2014.

Discussion

Obesity

Obesity is an increase in the BMI of an individual of up to 30 kg/m2. It results as a consequence of the chronic imbalance of calories due to the consumption of calories than the normal amount required by the body. There are numerous factors which play a key role in the development of obesity. History of obesity, metabolism, socioeconomic status, hereditary factors, behavior, environment, and culture are the important factors which are related with the increased prevalence of obesity. There is a strong association between obesity in adults with childhood and adolescent obesity. It has been observed that most of the obese adults were obese during their adolescence and most of the obese adolescents were obese in their childhood (Rooney et al, 2011, p. 116).

Obesity is not only a public health concern ...