Food Nutrition a Top Priority for Malaysia

The Malaysian Health Ministry (MOH) has set the nutrition research priorities for the Tenth Malaysia Plan that will be implemented from 2011 to 2015.

According to the latest release posted on the ministry’s website, the formulation of such priorities was aimed at combating the double burden of nutritional deficiencies and diet-related chronic diseases.

MOH said that the Ninth Malaysia Plan had affirmed that one of its goals was to enhance research and development, which would be accorded greater emphasis under the Tenth Malaysia Plan.

“The research and development will stress on the reduction of the double burden malnutrition especially through empowerment and healthy lifestyles,” said the ministry.

While inadequate infant feeding and complementary feeding practices will be looked into, other research and development areas cover macro- and micro-nutrient excesses and deficiencies; diet related non-communicable diseases; overweight and obesity.

Inadequate food intake and unhealthy dietary practices across the lifespan; inadequate monitoring of national nutritional health status; as well as incomplete food composition database for nutrient and non-nutrient components will also be studied.

The ministry noted that although the country had attained improvements in social economic and health in recent decades, such benefits did not reach certain segments of the population due to poverty, lack of information and geographic terrain challenges.

A Malaysia plan is a five-year plan implemented by the Malaysian government to develop and improve various sectors in the country such as infrastructure, education, healthcare and economy for the good of the country and its people.