27/07/2025

NATIONAL 6 theSun on Sunday JULY 27, 2025

Overweight teen keen to ‘break free’

Unable to engage in sports and active tasks, 14-year-old undergoes treatment to escape from 103kg ‘prison’

Mohd Yuzaini expressed belief that his son’s obesity was likely not solely due to his diet, adding that it may be influenced by genetic factors, although no medical tests have been carried out to confirm his suspicions. “Many members of my family, including me, have obesity issues,” he said, adding his weight once peaked at 165kg (his height is 176cm). “In the past, I used to be active in rugby. When we are involved in sports, we eat and stay active, so we are able to keep our weight under control. But later on, I stopped playing rugby and focused on my job. I became physically less active and started to gain weight.” Mohd Yuzaini, who has six siblings and is the eldest, said his immediate younger sibling passed away due to heart disease caused by obesity. “Another two siblings are also obese, with one having lost a leg due to diabetes,” he said, adding that in 2007, he decided to undergo bariatric surgery after his doctor warned he would eventually develop diabetes, hypertension and heart disease if he did not undergo the procedure.

KUALA LUMPUR: Like any other teenager, Muhammad Mikhael Qaiser Mohd Yuzaini longs to participate in sports and physical activities. But the 14-year-old tires easily and cannot stand for extended periods or handle physically demanding tasks. The main reason – his weight. As of early March, he weighed 103kg, a figure considered obese for his height of 168cm. “I’m truly determined to lose weight this year because I want to live a healthier and more active life,” said Muhammad Mikhael, who is currently undergoing treatment to reduce weight. According to the World Health Organisation, Malaysia has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in Southeast Asia. Childhood obesity in Malaysia has been on a steady rise over the past 15 years, with over 30% of children aged five to 17 classified as overweight or

obese in 2022. Overweight is a condition of excessive fat deposits in the body, while obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that could impair health. Obesity could lead to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It could also affect bone health and reproduction, and increase the risk of certain cancers. Muhammad Mikhael’s father Mohd Yuzaini Abu Bakar, 48, said his son has always been “cute and chubby”, adding that he loved milk and could consume eight big bottles per day until the age of three. Mohd Yuzaini, a medical laboratory technologist at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), said he and his wife, who also works at UMMC, began consulting a paediatrician when their son was four years old due to concerns about his rapid

Mohd Yuzaini believes that his son’s condition may be due to a combination of excessive food intake and genetic factors. – BERNAMAPIC

“Whether it’s home-cooked or food bought outside, he’s fine with it. There was a time when every time we went out, he insisted on getting a drink from a popular coffee chain, although we knew it was high in sugar. “As parents, sometimes we just couldn’t say no to him,” he said.

weight gain. Since both parents work at UMMC, they were more exposed to health information and found it easier to access medical support, Bernama reported. On Muhammad Mikhael’s eating habits, Mohd Yuzaini said he loves to eat and is not picky about food.

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