One in five kids in Malaysia affected by stunted growth

Unhealthy diet due to poverty and the busy lifestyles of some parents cited as key reasons

- Hazlin Hassan

KUALA LUMPUR - Madam Mimi Abdullah is worried about her son's growth, as he is one of the smallest children in his class.

"He is nine years old, but some people think he is younger," said the 45-year-old Kuala Lumpur resident, who is not using her real name in this report to protect her son's identity.

While her son has a healthy appetite, he tends to eat fast food and snacks a lot because of the family's busy schedule, she said, adding that she tries to give him milk as the paediatrician advised them, but he dislikes the taste.

She works two jobs and often does not cook at home.

Being in the top 20 per cent of households in terms of income those who earn RM11,820 (S$3,390) and above per month she has a helper at home who cooks.

But she said her son, who is the second of two children, does not like the helper's cooking.

Almost a third of children up to four years old in Malaysia suffer from stunted growth caused by unhealthy diets, according to data from the Health Ministry revealed on Nov 1 and reported by local media.

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022, stunting affected around one in five - or 21.2 per cent of all children in Malaysia.

And the problem affects children on both ends of the financial spectrum. Some cases are due to the budren suffering from stunted growth.