What more can Malaysia do to combat child obesity beyond sugary drink tax?

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Additional Measures Recommended to Combat Child Obesity in Malaysia

Beyond the implementation of a tax on sugary drinks, several other measures have been recommended to address Malaysia's child obesity problem. These include enhancing school nutrition programmes, improving food labelling, and strengthening regulations on marketing unhealthy food and beverages to children. These complementary strategies aim to create a more supportive environment for healthy eating habits among young Malaysians.
Enhancing School Nutrition Programmes

A key recommendation is the implementation of high-quality, healthy school meals. This is particularly crucial given that approximately 25 per cent of Malaysian children do not regularly eat breakfast. A well-structured school breakfast programme can have significant implications for children's learning and overall health.
Strengthening Food Labelling and Marketing Regulations

Compulsory nutrition labelling on all food and drink products is advised to empower consumers with better information about the nutritional content of what they are purchasing and consuming. Furthermore, more stringent regulations are recommended for the marketing of food and drinks that are specifically targeted at children, aiming to reduce their exposure to unhealthy options.
Long-Term Tax Adjustments and Diversification

While the current excise tax on sugary drinks is a positive step, it is recommended that its effectiveness be reviewed over the long term. Specifically, the tax rate could be increased up to RM1 per litre to align with international benchmarks. Additionally, consideration should be given to extending special excise taxes to other sugar-sweetened drinks and revising the sugar content thresholds for taxable goods, as some currently may still be too high. Consumption of milk-based drinks and fruit juices with high sugar content should also be limited.

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What more can Malaysia do to combat child obesity beyond sugary drink tax?

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