Obesity is growing at an alarming rate in the country and must be addressed at the societal level, said Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam.

He said the percentage of obesity increased by 15.1 percent from 44.4 percent in 1996 to 59.1 percent in 2011 mainly due to a culture of unhealthy diet, poor eating habits and lack of exercise.

"As there is a wide selection of food, some people are unable to control what or how much to eat.

"Worst still they become couch potato after eating and give a lot of excuses to avoid working out," he said when opening the two-day Nutrition Malaysia Month (NMM) 2014 at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre today.

Subramaniam said apart from deterring overeating, the public should carry out physical activities like using staircases instead of lifts to burn their calories.

Held since 2002, the NMM aims at creating greater awareness of obesity by promoting healthy eating and active living as the keys to keeping a healthy body weight and preventing diet related diseases.

- Bernama