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MALAYSIA is confronting an increasingly serious public health challenge after nationwide screening data revealed alarming levels of obesity and chronic illness among working adults, particularly those approaching retirement age.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said findings from the Social Security Organisation’s Health Screening Programme showed that 59.2 per cent of workers screened between 2023 and 2025 were either overweight or obese.
The screenings also found that nearly one in five workers suffered from diabetes, while 17.45 per cent were diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Even more concerning, he said, was the discovery that 59.24 per cent of participants recorded elevated cholesterol levels, with the highest-risk category concentrated among workers aged between 40 and 59.
Khairul warned that the country’s ageing workforce now faces mounting exposure to non-communicable diseases at a stage of life that should otherwise remain economically productive.
“We need to realise that the pre-retirement phase is a productive period, but at the same time, it is also a critical period for the risk of non-communicable diseases,” he said.
“In fact, the Health Ministry has also disclosed that only 14.7 per cent of senior citizens in Malaysia are currently able to achieve healthy ageing.”
He said the findings reflected broader structural health concerns linked to sedentary lifestyles, dietary habits and growing healthcare pressures associated with Malaysia’s ageing population.
Khairul Firdaus also highlighted rising concern over cancer, which remains the third leading cause of death in Malaysia and is increasingly affecting younger age groups.
He urged Malaysians not to underestimate the risks posed by chronic illnesses and called on workers to adopt healthier lifestyles, balanced diets and stronger preventive healthcare practices.
Speaking at the launch of the SOCSO Run and Ride 2026 programme held in conjunction with Workers’ Day celebrations, Khairul Firdaus said participation trends showed encouraging signs that older workers were becoming more health-conscious.
“This is a very encouraging development and I hope all workers, regardless of age, will continue to embrace a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
“This is because workers’ health is a key determinant of our productivity and indirectly influences socio-economic sustainability.”
The ninth edition of the SOCSO Run and Ride programme recorded its highest participation to date, attracting 12,000 participants as the Human Resources Ministry intensified efforts to promote preventive healthcare and active living among Malaysian workers. - May 17, 2026
