MALAYSIAN consumers are eating better and exercising more, with 65 per cent believing they will emerge healthier in the new normal based on a new survey.
The survey, by Herbalife Nutrition, which polled 8,000 consumers in eight Asia Pacific markets, including Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, also shed light into the motivations behind consumers' dietary and lifestyle changes.
"The hard times we are currently facing have redefined how we stay healthy and active within the comfort of our own homes. It has been challenging, but we've learned that there is always room to make changes to improve our lifestyles, especially when those changes can lead to lasting results in our personal well-being," says Herbalife Nutrition Malaysia general manager and director, Steven Chin.
From the survey, almost 50 per cent of Malaysians have made changes to their diet, with 61 per cent eating more fruits, vegetables and other plant-based foods, and consuming less meat. In fact, more consumers want to eat nutrient-dense, plant-based proteins but don't know where to start.
This reveals a need for wider public nutrition education to help consumers make better decisions in their daily diets.
Beyond making changes to their diet, 63 per cent of Malaysians have also started to exercise more.
Diving deeper into dietary changes, 61 per cent of consumers in Malaysia who have made changes to their diet, have started eating more fruits and vegetables, 47 per cent eat less meat, while 41 per cent choose to eat more plant-based foods.
Additionally, a large number of Malaysians now display a greater openness towards plant-based food options than before.
With that, food chains in Malaysia are now producing more meat-free plant-based products, catering to this up and coming fast-emerging segment.
Preferred sources of plant-based protein by Malaysians include soy and soy-based food, nuts and seeds and other types of beans.
When it comes to the impact of their dietary changes, a large majority of Malaysians say they have noticed a positive difference in their health and 82 per cent plan to keep these dietary changes for the foreseeable future.
Having easy-to-follow meal plans was also cited as the key factor in helping them keep up with their healthier nutrition regime.
In addition, 49 per cent said having a health and wellness coach would help, while 45 per cent would choose convenient meal alternatives that don't take long to make.