(Miri, 30th) The Miri Health Office (Pejabat Kesihatan Bahagian Miri) held an advocacy activity titled 'War on Sugar: Reading Sugar Labels and Healthy Supermarket Tour' this morning at Boulevard Hypermarket, Pujut, attracting active participation from the public and participants of the 'Trim & Fit' program.
This event was jointly organized by the Miri Health Office, the Miri Branch of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), and Boulevard Hypermarket. It aims to raise public awareness of the sugar content in food and beverages, encourage healthy eating habits, and reduce excessive sugar intake.
The event was officiated by Miri Member of Parliament Chiew Choon Man, who was represented by Chu Tzy Kian. He was invited to attend and deliver a speech, expressing support and affirmation for activities promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The main goal of this advocacy activity is to urge the public to develop the habit of reading food labels, particularly noting the sugar content in products, to make healthier food choices, and to prevent non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
According to the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS 2023), the proportion of overweight and obese individuals in our country has risen from 50.1% in 2019 to 54.5%. Although the prevalence of diabetes in adults has slightly decreased from 18.3% to 15.6%, Malaysia remains one of the Southeast Asian countries with the highest diabetes prevalence, with an average of 1 in 6 people affected.
'Reading Sugar Labels' is part of the annual 'Healthy Supermarket Tour' activity and a key initiative in the '2024-2030 Strategic Plan for Reducing National Sugar Intake'. The plan aims, through advocacy activities, to encourage the public to reduce sugar intake in daily life, especially in home cooking and dining out, to lower the prevalence of nutrition-related diseases and reduce the government's medical expenditure burden.
The Miri Health Office stated that it will continue to collaborate with government agencies, private sectors, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations to promote healthy eating and lifestyle advocacy in a more comprehensive and systematic manner, and to convey the importance of healthy eating through clinics, community activities, and social media platforms.
