Saturday, April 26, 2025

Health hazard of late supper and nightly "lepak"


Friday frontpage of The Star reads:

One-third of Malaysian adults and 40% of adolescents have a heavy supper weekly, which leads to obesity, according to a survey. The Health Ministry warns that late suppers, with excessive sugar and salts, can be harmful.

Having to undergo various illness in this late age, partly attributed to diet issues in our youth and adulthood related to lifestyle and nature of work, the hazard to health from late supper and Malaysian nightly "lepak" culture  should not be ignored. 

Its those simple pleasures that will come back to haunt later in life and make the twilight of your life unbearable. 

A word of an advice from the wisdom of experience worthy to impart to the younger Malaysians, "Be conscious of the effect of diet and lifestyle to one's health."

The articles from Friday Star as follows:

Price to pay for late-night eating

By ALLISON LAI

NATION 


PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is renowned for its delectable cuisine, but this culinary abundance is leading many to habitually indulge in heavy late-night meals, a trend that is becoming increasingly concerning.

A significant portion of Malaysians, including 41.8% of adolescents and 33.5% of adults, consume heavy suppers at least once a week, according to findings from a Health Ministry survey.

The latest findings highlighted the growing trend as a significant health concern, with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad calling on Malaysians to rethink their nocturnal noshing habits.

“We don’t eat a little at a time, but rather we keep eating little by little (Kita bukan makan sikit-sikit, tapi sikit-sikit makan),” he said when met after launching the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2024 Nutrition report at the ministry here yesterday.

Dzulkefly called on Malaysians to reduce their intake of supper or to eat in moderation, as this activity can have negative effects on health.

“Late-night heavy meals contribute significantly to health problems such as obesity and metabolic disorders.

“Before bed, avoid heavy meals late at night. It’s not that you can’t eat, but always in moderation.”

According to NHMS 2024, late-night eating can negatively impact sleep quality, cause digestive issues and increase the risk of heart diseases.

Additionally, Dzulkefly stated that the comprehensive survey also assessed nutritional patterns and situations, revealing that excessive intake of sugar and salt remains a prevalent issue.

He said 63.1% of adolescents and 47% of adults exceed the recommended sugar intake, with nearly half of this consumption coming from sugary beverages.

Furthermore, 75.9% of adults consume more than 2,000mg of salt daily, which is over 1.5 teaspoons and exceeds health guidelines.

“Although there is a slight decrease compared to 78.6% in 2018 and 79.0% in 2012, this trend remains worrying.

“These habits may seem small, but they carry huge consequences.

“They are partly the reasons causing obesity, diabetes and hypertension, all from what we eat.

“They underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce unhealthy eating habits among Malaysians, particularly the youth.”

The NHMS 2024 also highlighted the alarming deficiencies in essential micronutrients.

Dzulkefly said a significant portion of the population lacked sufficient iodine intake, with 45.7% falling below the World Health Organisation’s recommended levels.

Additionally, deficiencies in vitamins A and C are known to be widespread, affecting both adolescents and adults, mainly due to inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The survey found that only 12.8% of adolescents and 17.1% of adults meet the WHO’s recommended fruit intake, while a mere 5.2% of adolescents and 12.2% of adults consume the suggested amount of vegetables.

In response to these findings, Dzulkefly said the ministry has launched a series of initiatives aimed at improving national dietary habits.

“These include launching the War on Sugar Campaign for all 222 parliament constituencies by 2027, reducing sugar content in sachets from 5g to 3g and implementing a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax.

“The ministry is also intensifying its War on Salt Campaign, focusing on consumer education and clearer nutritional labelling.”

Dzulkefly noted that the government is also collaborating with local food operators and chefs to promote recipes that are low in sugar and salt.

“Symbolic measures, such as stopping the serving of late-night heavy meals at official functions, are also being considered to set an example.”

Stressing that NHMS is not merely a report but a call for urgent action, Dzulkefly called on Malaysians to “start small” and “not wait”.

“Let us all take advantage of the free health and nutrition screenings available at public health facilities.

“Early intervention is crucial for preventing serious health complications.

“Let’s aim to foster a healthier lifestyle culture across the nation,” he said.

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Malaysians’ late-night heavy meal habit alarming, says Dr Dzul

NATION

Thursday, 24 Apr 2025 3:54 PM MYT

PUTRAJAYA: The trend of consuming heavy meals late at night has raised health concerns, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2024: Nutrition, released on Thursday (April 24).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said one of the key findings revealed that 41.8% of adolescents and 33.5% of adults consume sizable suppers late at night at least once a week.

In light of the finding, he urged the public to reduce eating heavy meals late at night or consume them in moderation, as the habit negatively affects health.

"Reduce heavy suppers before going to bed, not that we can't have them, but always in moderation," he told reporters after launching the NHMS 2024: Nutrition, here.

According to NHMS 2024, late-night eating can negatively affect sleep quality, cause digestive issues, and increase the risk of heart disease.

NHMS 2024: Nutrition is a nationwide population-based survey on nutrition conducted periodically by the Healthy Ministry to assess dietary patterns and the nutritional status of Malaysians across various age groups.

A total of 5,147 respondents participated in the survey conducted from July to September 2024.

Meanwhile, Dzulkefly said another key finding is that 63.1% of adolescents and 47% of adults consume sugar exceeding recommended dietary levels, with nearly half the intake coming from sugary beverages.

As for salt, 75.9% of the adult population consumes more than 2,000mg of salt daily, which is equivalent to more than 1½ teaspoons.

"Everyone is encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle, active living, good diet, and good cooking, because good diets start with good cooking."

"Go for free nutritional and health screenings, including at the ministry’s Wellness Hubs," he added. - Bernama

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Delicious end to a Malaysian night

By RAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM and JUNAID IBRAHIM

NATION

Friday, 25 Apr 2025

Hard habit to break: It is undeniable that Malaysians just can’t resist the urge for late night suppers.

PETALING JAYA: Whether it involves working graveyard shifts or simply socialising with friends late at night for a “lepak” session, Malaysians cannot resist the urge for supper.

For many, having supper has become a habit that is difficult to kick.

Mohd Sabri Abdul Halim, 35, said that he agreed that Malaysians have a late-night eating culture due to the easy access to food at night.

“Mamaks are open 24 hours, and our fast food restaurants are everywhere. We need to teach the young to eat more healthily,” he said.

The engineer from Melaka said that he developed the habit of having supper due to working night shifts, watching television, and socialising with friends.

“I tend to reach for fries, fast food, and kebabs even late at night,” he said.

“I know it is unhealthy, but I am trying to make changes by eating right,” he added.

Grace Selva, 28, who works in customer service, said she tends to eat more while working graveyard shifts.

“Since our shifts are usually at night, I tend to eat to stay awake. Usually, you don’t get any healthy options at that time. So, fast food or mamak food is usually the go-to. These are usually heavy and not easy on the stomach,” she said.

“Besides coffee, food helps keep me awake. I have gained 7kgs since I started working,” she said.

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Echoing that, Dr Lim, a medical officer at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, also said that, despite being in the medical field, she has a habit of eating during night shifts.

“Even when I am not working at night, I would raid the fridge to see if I have something to munch on. It is out of habit rather than hunger. I know it is unhealthy, but sometimes you just can’t help it,” she added.

Marketing executive Leon Lim, 25, from Cheras, said he occasionally has supper at mamak restaurants while watching sports matches with his friends.

He concurred with the latest findings, saying that Malaysians ought to practise self-control and engage in more physical activity.

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“Late-night supper in mamak restaurants has become a cultural norm for us Malaysians.

“It all depends on how often one typically indulges in very late-night suppers and whether they maintain a more active lifestyle,” he said.

Ahmad Hanifah, 30, echoed the sentiment, saying that it is all about moderation and balance.

“Sometimes, you just can’t turn down an invitation to have a late-night teh tarik session with friends.

“However, I still believe that moderation is the key, such as ordering less sugary drinks or avoiding staying out too late and missing out on sleep time,” said Ahmad, who hails from Kuala Lumpur.

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In the US and Europe, restaurant and eateries are usually closed by latest 8:00 PM. Shopping malls closed by 6:00 PM. Only in Malaysia do the mamak shop is kept open 24/7.

Its not a healthy culture. Medically, one should habitally be sleeping by 10 am and the last meal is few hours before. The traditional maxim of our parents and grandparents for "early to bed early to rise" is a healthier and more productive. 

The health hazard cost the government money in cost to the healthcare system. Thus, prevention is better than cure. This blogger support the expert suggestion for early closure of restaurants. For a start:

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