IT has been said countless times by philosophers, scientists, doctors and who have you — that the foundation of success in life is good health, which is also the basis of happiness.
But it is also the one goal that some of us find difficult to achieve.
Trying to keep fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle has always been a popular topic among Malaysians, particularly because we love our food, we love to eat, but we loathe exercise.
For some, being healthy comes naturally — having a balanced diet and regular exercise. But for others, these are a chore, and they are content to eat more than their fill, forgetting all else.
And because of this, Malaysia is Asia’s fattest country, with approximately half of the population overweight or obese.
The statistics are appalling. A 2011 study by the National Health and Morbidity Survey among Southeast Asian countries showed that Malaysia topped the list with the highest population of obese adults, at 44.2 per cent. In 2015, it shot up to 47.3 per cent.
Also, the Institute of Health’s Second Burden of Disease Study for Malaysia, in 2012, singled out high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and overweight and obesity as the biggest contributors to disability and death.
More? Based on the latest data, 1.65 million schoolchildren are expected to be overweight or obese by 2025 if nothing is done. Malaysians are indeed an unhealthy lot.
The economic costs are equally shocking. On obesity for instance, the country’s total (direct and indirect) costs are the highest in Asean, accounting for between 10 per cent and 19 per cent of national healthcare spending.
Such figures have been quoted throughout the year in various reports and by many health activists, but they bear repeating.
Generally, most of us want to be in excellent health. We want to be able to complete that bucket list without worrying about a health condition getting in the way.
A change in our lifestyle is called for. Next Wednesday is Jan 1. Let’s get fit by adopting a healthier lifestyle.
There’s a saying — good health is not something that we can buy, but it can be “an extremely valuable savings account”. We should make “fit and healthy” our fashion statement.
Consider our prime minister. At 94, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the best example of health and longevity. The New Sunday Times last week ran his article on his recipe for staying healthy.
The first thing one can do to stay healthy is to have a good eating habit.
The other is self-discipline because “many things are within our control and we should do our best to control ourselves so that we stay healthy and probably live to a ripe old age”.
Always easier said than done, but it’s a start. Malaysia should also aim to be one of five places in the world that have been identified as the “blue zone”, where people live the longest and healthiest lives.
They are Okinawa (Japan), the Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), Loma Linda (California, the United States), Ikaria (Greece) and Sardinia (Italy). So let’s get cracking.