MASO combats obesity with its new nationwide pre-diabetes screening campaign.
The Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (MASO) is launching a nationwide pre-diabetes screening campaign in conjunction with its biennial Scientific Conference MASO 2009.
“The theme of this year’s conference, Obesity and our Environment, serves to update our members and all related professionals of the growing concern our environment plays in relation to the obesity epidemic from a broad perspective and to highlight some recent local and global efforts and actions for their prevention and control,” said MASO president Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Noor.
MASO is an independent body of healthcare professionals involved in both basic and applied research into the subject of obesity. Their focus of attention is on the study of obesity in Malaysia, including its causes, manifestations and prevention.
The screening campaign is part of MASO’s ongoing efforts to combat obesity and is supported by Abbott Laboratories (M) Sdn Bhd. The screening is available free-of-charge at selected clinics nationwide.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey III conducted in 2006, 43.3% of Malaysians are either overweight or obese. In the same survey, it was found that the prevalence of abdominal obesity (AO) in Malaysian adults is higher than in most other Asian countries, except for South Asia. AO is strongly linked to the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent co-morbid conditions, occurring in 61% of obese patients, and 90% of type 2 diabetes is attributable to excess weight.
Obesity also increases the risk of developing pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal.
“The screening campaign will help complement the Ministry of Health’s efforts in increasing awareness of the dangers of obesity and its complications, especially diabetes. There are numerous weight reduction options in the market today which offer quick-fix solutions, however MASO advocates a healthy lifestyle as part of a comprehensive approach in weight management programme,” added Prof Dr Ismail.
Prof Dr Ismail commented that weight loss plays an important role in preventing and delaying the onset of diabetes. Recent data revealed that the prevalence of diabetes has increased from 8.3% in 1996 to 14.9% in 2006. One in six Malaysian adults above 30 years old has diabetes – an estimated 1.4 million in number. Diabetes prevalence has almost doubled in the last decade, in parallel with the doubling of overweight/obesity in the population.
“A three to five kg weight loss reduces diabetes incidence by 58%. Studies have shown that overweight pre-diabetics will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Therefore it is advisable to lose weight moderately,” he advised.
Prof Dr Ismail also expressed the need for overweight/obese individuals who may find it difficult to lose weight to seek professional advice from nutritionists, dieticians, and doctors on weight loss options, including pharmacotherapy and even surgery in severe morbid cases...
The Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (MASO) is launching a nationwide pre-diabetes screening campaign in conjunction with its biennial Scientific Conference MASO 2009.
“The theme of this year’s conference, Obesity and our Environment, serves to update our members and all related professionals of the growing concern our environment plays in relation to the obesity epidemic from a broad perspective and to highlight some recent local and global efforts and actions for their prevention and control,” said MASO president Prof Dr Mohd Ismail Noor.
MASO is an independent body of healthcare professionals involved in both basic and applied research into the subject of obesity. Their focus of attention is on the study of obesity in Malaysia, including its causes, manifestations and prevention.
The screening campaign is part of MASO’s ongoing efforts to combat obesity and is supported by Abbott Laboratories (M) Sdn Bhd. The screening is available free-of-charge at selected clinics nationwide.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey III conducted in 2006, 43.3% of Malaysians are either overweight or obese. In the same survey, it was found that the prevalence of abdominal obesity (AO) in Malaysian adults is higher than in most other Asian countries, except for South Asia. AO is strongly linked to the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent co-morbid conditions, occurring in 61% of obese patients, and 90% of type 2 diabetes is attributable to excess weight.
Obesity also increases the risk of developing pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal.
“The screening campaign will help complement the Ministry of Health’s efforts in increasing awareness of the dangers of obesity and its complications, especially diabetes. There are numerous weight reduction options in the market today which offer quick-fix solutions, however MASO advocates a healthy lifestyle as part of a comprehensive approach in weight management programme,” added Prof Dr Ismail.
Prof Dr Ismail commented that weight loss plays an important role in preventing and delaying the onset of diabetes. Recent data revealed that the prevalence of diabetes has increased from 8.3% in 1996 to 14.9% in 2006. One in six Malaysian adults above 30 years old has diabetes – an estimated 1.4 million in number. Diabetes prevalence has almost doubled in the last decade, in parallel with the doubling of overweight/obesity in the population.
“A three to five kg weight loss reduces diabetes incidence by 58%. Studies have shown that overweight pre-diabetics will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Therefore it is advisable to lose weight moderately,” he advised.
Prof Dr Ismail also expressed the need for overweight/obese individuals who may find it difficult to lose weight to seek professional advice from nutritionists, dieticians, and doctors on weight loss options, including pharmacotherapy and even surgery in severe morbid cases...
