Seven in 10 Klang Valley adults overweight or obese, raising risks of heart, kidney and diabetes

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Seven in 10 adults screened in the Klang Valley were found to be overweight or obese, underscoring Malaysia’s growing cardio renal metabolic (CRM) health crisis, according to the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Findings from two policy briefs, supported by the Health Ministry, revealed that 2,065 of 5,000 individuals screened under the Saring@Komuniti programme were living with obesity. Overall, 41.3 per cent were obese and 28.8 per cent overweight, while 34.5 per cent had pre diabetes and 35.1 per cent diabetes.

The reports showed that 97.8 per cent of participants had at least one CRM risk factor, with nearly 68 per cent facing three or more. Obesity was the most common condition, followed by diabetes and hyperlipidaemia.

NCSM managing director Professor Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said the findings highlight the need to treat cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health as a connected continuum.

“Malaysia has an opportunity to shift from managing individual diseases separately to addressing CRM health holistically. Early detection must be matched by coordinated follow up and long term care if we are to improve outcomes and reduce the growing burden of chronic disease,” he said in a statement today.

The briefs also noted that rural and underserved communities face significant barriers in accessing healthcare and co screening programmes for CRM syndrome.