Malaysia needs more exercise therapists

Rated as the highest among Asian countries for obesity, Malaysia is in need of more exercise therapists, says Dr Lee Chee Pheng, an expert in exercise science.

According to Lee, longstanding prescribed therapy has proven to help in preventing chronic diseases such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (abnormal amount of cholesterol and/or fat) in the blood.

He said there were only 30 exercise therapists in the country, seven with the Health Ministry and 23 under the sponsorship of Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM), Prime Minister's Office.

Exercise therapy is a plan of physical activities designed and prescribed for specific therapeutic goals. For the past ten years, Lee has been researching and developing exercise science and it has proven to produce many positive changes to the human body if executed in correct dosages.