PETALING JAYA: While many people across the world have gained weight during the lockdowns, research has shown that a lot of Malaysians have become thinner.
Research conducted by Market Research Company Ipsos showed that 36% of Malaysians have lost weight during the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order (MCO).
According to Ipsos senior manager of public affairs Lars Erik Lie, among the causes many Malaysians lost weight during the pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO) were cutting down on sugary drinks and exercising more.
“While weight gain has been the result in many countries, weight loss is a more common outcome in Malaysia.
“Among the many measures taken by Malaysians who try to become leaner, cutting down on consumption of sugary drinks and sugar in general are key ingredients,” Lie said in his report.
The research showed that 72% of Malaysians cut down on sugar. Similarly, 62% of global respondents saying they are reducing taking sweet drinks.
According to some other studies conducted in 2019 before the pandemic started Malaysia had the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in South-east Asia at 15.6 per cent, followed by Brunei (14.1 per cent), Thailand (10.0 per cent) and Indonesia (6.9 per cent).
