Kuala lumpur: Vendors selling candies, sweets, light snacks, fast food, ice cream, and carbonated drinks are a common sight outside school gates in Malaysia. A random survey of several primary schools in Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan by Bernama recently found that the vendors turn up every school day without fail, with pupils scrambling to buy their favourite drink or snack as soon as school ends.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysians' consumption of sugary drinks has increased dramatically over the past 15 years, in tandem with rising incomes. More than one-third (36 percent) of students have sugary drinks at least once a day, and the average daily sugar intake for adolescents has increased from seven teaspoons in 2012 to 10 teaspoons in 2017, which is more than the recommended limit for adults. On average, Malaysians consume around three kilogrammes of sugar per year in the form of sugary drinks.
UNICEF Malaysia also highlighted that taxation of sugary drinks has consistently been shown to reduce sugar consumption and improve health outcomes. In Malaysia, an excise duty on sugary drinks was introduced in Budget 2019 at 40 sen per litre, which was increased by 10 sen to 50 sen in Budget 2024. An additional 40 sen will be added through Budget 2025, bringing the total excise duty to 90 sen per litre. The tax applies only to three categories of ready-to-drink sugary beverages manufactured locally or imported.
The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) reported that the implementation of the sugar tax in 2019 has shown a reduction in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among teenagers - from 36.9 percent (according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey [NHMS] 2017 findings) to 16.4 percent (data from a 2022 study to assess the impact and effectiveness of Malaysia's sugar-sweetened beverage tax).
However, sugary beverages are not the only concern. Unhealthy eating habits among children are further reinforced by the widespread availability of fast food and processed snacks sold not only in shops but outside school gates as well. Despite regulations in place, vendors continue to operate near schools, offering children easy access to calorie-dense, low-nutrient options - often without their parents' knowledge.
Mahani Mohd Baseri, senior assistant for student affairs at Sekolah Kebangsaan King George V, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, stated that food and beverages sold by vendors operating outside the school compound do not come under the school's jurisdiction, noting that the responsibility lies with the local authority, in this case, the Seremban City Council.
Dr. Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin, Professor of Paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, linked obesity to more than just the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). He stated that obese children are also at high risk of experiencing emotional and mental health challenges. Stress and depression are often silent struggles faced by many overweight and obese children.
Child psychologist Dr. Noor Aishah Rosli, managing director of CPC International, noted that there are obese children who feel ashamed and stressed about their body size and lack self-confidence. This eventually makes them feel left out and affects their emotional and mental state, which can ultimately impact their academic performance.
N.V. Subbarow, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) education officer, commented on the wide availability of unhealthy snacks. He noted that hundreds of snack and drink products are sold in the market today, with many imported from neighbouring countries and specifically designed to attract children.
As Malaysia tackles the childhood obesity crisis, experts emphasize that it is not just about managing weight; it is also about protecting a child's self-worth. Beyond healthier eating habits and lifestyle changes, children also need empathy, understanding, and the chance to be accepted for who they truly are, not just how they look.