Over four million people die each year across the globe as a result of being overweight or obese.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to one’s health.

Growing evidence shows that COVID-19 survivors can suffer from long-term health effects, not least heart-related complications. New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that many people who recover from the virus have heart inflammation (myocarditis). Of 100 survivors in the study, 78 had evidence of previous heart inflammation, and 60 showed ongoing inflammation at the time of observation. This medical complication should worry us all.

As of 17 June, over eight million people have been infected with the new coronavirus, taking with it more than 440,000 lives worldwide. Although the death rate is relatively low – below 10 percent to date, the COVID-19 virus is believed to be able to trigger other diseases or further weaken those with pre-existing medical conditions.

There is a growing trend in ASEAN that is not so welcomed – obesity. The prevalence of obesity and being overweight among ASEAN’s citizens is increasing due to rising incomes, and urbanisation. It is also placing a strain on the region’s healthcare systems and government budgets.An obese person can be measured by his or her Body Mass Index (BMI) which measures a person’s weight in relation to their height.

Children around the world are not getting the nutrients they need, undermining their capacity to grow, develop and learn to their full potential. According to the State of the World’s Children 2019: children, food and nutrition’ report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one in three children under five is not properly growing due to malnutrition.