IT was worrying to hear Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad warning Malaysians that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise, based on the National Health Morbidity Survey conducted by his ministry; he was speaking on Saturday in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan.

Diabetes has risen from 8.3% cases among the population in 1996 to 17.5% in 2015, and the percentage of adults suffering from hypertension is at a high of 30%. Smoking and obesity are the two factors contributing to these two fast-spreading NCDs that cause premature death.