Global activist calls for establishment of exercise clinics in housing projects

By V. Sankara Subramaniam

OXFORD, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- A global activist on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has proposed that housing developers in Malaysia consider incorporating exercise clinics in their projects to attract potential customers.           

Datuk Seri Jessy Lai who represented Malaysia at the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) in Oxford yesterday, said besides being a unique selling point for real estate businesses, exercise clinics incorporated in housing projects could encourage behavioural change to reduce the risk of getting NCDs which are on the rise.

"We are ready to work with the Housing and Local Government Ministry and developers to establish exercise clinics in each and every housing project or to convert gymnasiums into exercise clinics," she told Bernama after presenting a paper entitled 'Fighting Global NCDs' at the one-day EBA themed 'Summit of Leaders 2019 - Leaders who define future, future that defines leaders' at the Oxford Town Hall here.

Exercise therapy has the potential to treat and prevent four main NCDs, namely hypertension, diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia, through the prescription of the right kind of therapy.

The therapy, which has the potential to be an alternative to conventional medicine in preventing NCDs, has proven to produce many positive changes to the human body, if executed in the right manner, she explained.

Lai, who runs the MS New Symphony Exercise Clinic, advised parents who are diagnosed with NCDs to adopt a healthy lifestyle to avoid the risk of them passing on their diseases to their children as NCDs are hereditary.

"I hope NCDs are something future generations will not have to suffer from. I believe we can work together to prevent NCDs," said the 49-year-old activist.

On another note, Lai who is also the chief executive officer of Monspace Multinational Corp, said the 4th World Conference on Exercise Medicine (WCEM) will take place from June 19-21 in Kuala Lumpur next year, and will be co-hosted by the Health Ministry.

The three-day conference will gather exercise scientists, physicians, therapists and coaches from 25 nations to deliberate on exercise medicine, which is increasingly gaining acceptance among Malaysians.

She said some 26 health professionals from 14 countries are scheduled to attend the scientific committee meeting in February to deliberate on the WCEM.

Further information on the WCEM can be obtained at: wcem.com.my/info@wcem.com.my.

-- BERNAMA