28/12/2025

ON SUNDAY December 28, 2025 VI theSunday Special

Oats are adaptable,

affordable and satisfying when used creatively.”

Thye

A recent study shows that 54.4% of Malaysians are overweight or obese. Even more worrying, more than two million people KHUH VX̆ HU IURP WKUHH PDMRU health issues: obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These conditions in crease the risk of heart disease and stroke. Behind these numbers lie poor diets DQG OLIHVW\OH FKRLFHV LQFOXGLQJ ORZ ¿EUH LQWDNH WRR PDQ\ UH¿QHG FDUERK\GUDWHV and excessive sodium. The bad news is that these are all staples in daily meals. It is no surprise that chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension are on the rise, but many of these could be prevented by better nutrition and long-term habits. “ (DWLQJ KHDOWKLO\ LVQ¶W MXVW DERXW keeping your weight in check. It’s about building habits that support a better life, including movement, mental wellbeing and energy levels. It’s time we look beyond calories and focus on nourishment, bal ance and behaviour. When it comes to eating healthily, oats are a smart place to start,” said Georgen Thye, consultant dietitian.

Fuel your day with oats

ence on social media. Being overweight is often seen as a lack of willpower, but that LV QRW DOZD\V WKH FDVH ,W¶V QRW MXVW DERXW how much someone eats, but also the type of food they consume. Stereotypes can overlook the complex factors behind weight, including nutrition, metabolism and environment. “If you’re eating too many refined carbohydrates, even in large portions, they are digested and absorbed very quickly by the body. This causes your blood sugar to spike rapidly but unfortunately also drops MXVW DV IDVW ZKLFK FDQ OHDYH \RX IHHOLQJ hungry again sooner than expected,” explained Thye. When we experience intense hunger, we are often not ourselves. We may feel irritable or impulsive and are more likely to overeat. In these moments, we tend to crave high-sugar, high-calorie foods, which can lead to an unhealthy cycle of SRRU HDWLQJ KDELWV DQG ÀXFWXDWLQJ HQHUJ\ levels. “The smartest thing to do is to in corporate more whole foods like whole grains, brown rice, wholemeal bread and, of course, oats. These help release sugar more gradually, which supports mood stability. As a result, we’re less likely to feel the urge to eat everything in sight,” said Thye. As a dietitian, Thye is often asked how to make healthy food taste good. Nutritious food can also be hearty, local DQG IXOO RI ÀDYRXU 2DWV DUH D JUHDW EDVH WR work with, especially for those trying to eat EHWWHU ZLWKRXW JLYLQJ XS IRRG WKH\ HQMR\ “I’m adventurous, so when I suggest oats to my clients, they usually think of sweet dishes. But oats work well in savoury meals too, like chicken oatmeal porridge. They’re quick, hearty and great for baking as we can replace all-purpose ÀRXU LQ EURZQLHV PẊ QV DQG SDQFDNHV ZLWK PRUH QXWULHQWV DQG ¿EUH ´ KH VKDUHG O DWV R̆ HU D VLPSOH DQG H̆ HFWLYH ZD\ WR improve health through better nutrition. By incorporating oats into daily meals, Malaysians can support weight manage ment, heart health and sustained energy. Small changes like this can make a big difference in building lasting healthy habits.

BY HANNEF ESQUANDER

Q XDNHU KDV UHFHQWO\ LQWURGXFHG D ¿W ness campaign to encourage Malaysians to adopt smarter eating habits for better weight management and wellbeing. The campaign champions oats as a wholesome breakfast choice that can tackle early weight gain, promote heart health and support digestion. It is the perfect way to start your day on the right foot. Supported by more than 80 global clinical studies, oats have been proven to assist with weight management, thanks WR EHWD JOXFDQ 7KLV QDWXUDO VROXEOH ¿EUH helps increase satiety and regulate blood sugar. This helps prevent overeating and supports long-term health goals without

the need for restrictive diets. By starting the day with oats, Malaysians can easily DFFHVV WKLV VXSHUIRRG¶V EHQH¿WV IRU GLJHV tion, sustained energy and heart health. “Healthy eating doesn’t need to be complicated or restrictive. Incorporating oats into your morning meal is a simple ¿UVW VWHS WRZDUGV LPSURYLQJ VDWLHW\ GLJHV tion and energy levels. Oats are far from ERULQJ WKH\ DUH DGDSWDEOH D̆ RUGDEOH DQG incredibly satisfying when used creatively. Healthy food can be simple, satisfying and IXOO RI ÀDYRXU ,W¶V QRW DERXW UHVWULFWLRQ EXW about making better choices every day,” said Thye, who is also a dedicated advocate for healthy living through his active pres

A wholesome bowl of oat chicken porridge to start the day.