LETTERS: Obesity is in an increasing trend worldwide. Globally, more than two billion (39 per cent) adults were overweight, and 650 million (13 per cent) were obese in 2019.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2019 said 50.1 per cent of Malaysian adults were overweight (30.4 per cent) or obese (19.7 per cent).
Our country's obesity rate is greater than the global obesity rate of 13 per cent.
Obesity is associated with an increased risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, dyslipidemia and certain types of cancer.
NCDs are responsible for 71 per cent of premature deaths and more than 70 per cent of the disease burden in Malaysia.
The burden of disease (disability-adjusted life years) costs Malaysia about RM100 billion, or 7.35 per cent of the gross domestic product.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of premature death and illness in Malaysia. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Malaysian women, comprising 34.6 per cent of all cancers.
Over a person's lifetime, about one out of 20 women is at risk. The cancer burden has risen due to several causes, including population growth and ageing.
It is also linked to rapid economic and social development, notably cancers associated with obesity and lifestyle-related behaviour.
Fat tissue increases estrogen levels and insulin resistance, which predisposes women to a higher risk for breast cancer.
A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in women. A five-unit increase in BMI results in a 12 per cent increase in breast cancer risk.
Obese postmenopausal women have a 20 to 40 per cent increased chance of having breast cancer than normal-weight women.
Increasing exercise or physical activities helps to reduce breast cancer risks. As little as 75 to 150 minutes of brisk walking each week may be beneficial.
Maintain a healthy diet with less energy-dense or high-energy meals (such as deep-fried foods or fast food), and eat less processed foods, red meat, chips and snacks.
Avoid sugar- or calorie-dense beverages (sweetened juices) and alcohol.
Increase your intake of high-fibre fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, nuts and fish to minimise the risks of breast cancer.
Obesity is preventable. Get regular physical activity, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, get adequate sleep, avoid tobacco and alcohol, and maintain a cheerful disposition to reduce obesity and breast cancer risks.
In conjunction with the World Obesity Day theme "Everybody needs to act", let us all start acting by managing our body weight through the above measures to prevent obesity and breast cancer risks.
DR SOH YIH HARNG
DrPH candidate
PROFESSOR DR MOY FOONG MING
Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times