The Sultan of Brunei, where nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, “called for swift action to address the issue of unhealthy lifestyles and diet,” said The Brunei Times. The new edition of Global Nutrition Report by the think tank IFPRI named the country as having the highest obesity rate in Southeast Asia.
Brunei health officials say 61 percent of adults are overweight or obese, 30 percent have high blood pressure, 12 percent have diabetes and 70 percent have high cholesterol. Obesity is linked to chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. “The figures are alarming. We can no longer take this issue lightly. We have to discipline ourselves to overcome this issue,” the sultan said in a message marking the end of Ramadan.