Nutrition and Body Weight Status Among Adolescents in Malaysia

Adolescence is a critical period for growth and development, yet Malaysian youth face a dual challenge of under-nutrition and escalating rates of overweight and obesity. Rapid urbanisation, shifts towards energy-dense diets and sedentary lifestyles have driven a nutrition transition marked by increased consumption of processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and refined carbohydrates. Socio-economic and cultural factors—such as ethnicity, family income and urban versus rural residence—shape dietary choices, meal frequency and physical activity patterns. National surveys reveal that a sizeable proportion of adolescents fail to meet recommendations for fruit, vegetable and micronutrient intake, while overweight and obesity prevalence has climbed in recent decades, mirroring trends in other middle-income countries. This double burden exacerbates the risk of non-communicable diseases in later life, underlining the need for multifaceted strategies that combine school-based nutrition education, supportive food environments and policies to promote active living. Understanding the complex interplay of nutrient intake, body weight status and socio-cultural drivers is essential for designing targeted interventions that safeguard adolescent health and contribute to sustainable, healthier dietary systems in Malaysia and beyond.

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Nutrition and Body Weight Status Among Adolescents in Malaysia publication trend

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Technical terms

Body mass index (BMI): A weight-for-height measure (kg/m²) used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity.

Nutrition transition: The shift in dietary patterns from traditional diets high in fibre and micronutrients to energy-dense, processed foods as societies urbanise and incomes rise.

Double burden of malnutrition: The coexistence of under-nutrition (micronutrient deficiencies) and over-nutrition (overweight/obesity) within individuals, households or populations.

Macronutrients: Nutrients required in large amounts—protein, carbohydrates and fats—that provide energy and support growth and metabolism.

References

1. The nutrition transition in Malaysia; key drivers and recommendations for improved health outcomes. BMC Nutrition (2020).
2. Dietary and physical activity patterns related to cardio-metabolic health among Malaysian adolescents: a systematic review. BMC Public Health (2019).
3. Dietary Intake among Adolescents in a Middle-Income Country: An Outcome from the Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Team Study (the MyHeARTs Study). PLOS ONE (2016).
4. Association between socioeconomic status and obesity among 12-year-old Malaysian adolescents. PLOS ONE (2018).