By Jheruleene Anne Ramos
Malaysians struggling to afford balanced meals are being pushed towards unhealthy eating habits that are contributing to a surge in diet-related health problems, a recent study has revealed.
The study, “Food Affordability in Malaysia: When Markets and Money Decide What to Eat”, by Amjad Rabi and Norma Mansor highlighted that many Malaysian families simply cannot afford nutritious meals, including dairy and milk.
For example, a Malaysian worker needs 58 minutes of labour to buy one litre of milk, compared to just four minutes for a minimum-wage earner in the Netherlands.
“This affordability gap forces many households to substitute unhealthy, calorie-dense alternatives such as instant noodles and fried foods, which are cheaper but nutritionally inadequate,” the study said, as quoted by the New Straits Times.
Inflation and stagnant wages causing crisis
The researchers stressed that, despite government subsidies, stagnant wages and rising inflation make it extremely difficult for urban communities to afford nutritious meals.
They emphasised that, unlike rural households – which may have access to homegrown and fresh food – urban families must purchase most of their food, making them vulnerable to price hikes.
Malaysia’s food price inflation reached 6.8% in 2022, with essential food items such as rice, chicken, and vegetables experiencing sharp increases.
“Low-income families are being forced into unhealthy eating habits because they simply cannot afford better options,” the study noted.
READ MORE: Singapore tackles climate change while other nations delay
Severe health consequences
The study further found that an overreliance on unhealthy foods has led to severe health consequences in individuals, particularly amongst children in low-cost housing areas.
Equally alarming is the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey’s finding that 3.6 million adult Malaysians, or one in every six (15.6%), have been diagnosed with diabetes.
A 2024 report by the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy revealed that Malaysia has the highest diabetes rate in the Western Pacific and one of the highest globally.
Plenty of Malaysians also remain unaware that they have diabetes, with 40 per cent of adults and 84 per cent of young adults aged 18-29 unaware of their condition.
Other diet-related diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and hypertension have risen over the past few years too.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Vietnam’s Ba Den Mountain to host UN Day of Vesak 2025
Calls for immediate government intervention
The new study called for immediate government intervention to address the affordability crisis and promote healthier eating habits.
It urged the government to implement an automatic minimum wage adjustment system aligned with inflation and moreover expand school feeding programmes to ensure that low-income children receive at least one nutritious meal per day.
The researchers also emphasised the need to strengthen social protection initiatives, particularly for children and the elderly, so as to mitigate the risks of malnutrition caused by financial constraints.
Without urgent action, Malaysia’s growing health crisis could further burden the country’s healthcare system and jeopardise the well-being of future generations, the study warned.
READ NEXT: Cook Islands tourism body to transform Atiu into tourist hotspot
Ren Azrack Escosio 
Newsjustnews writers