After releasing the findings in the 2022 Diet Decisions Survey, Herbalife Nutrition revealed that Malaysian consumers are eating better and exercising more, with 65% believing that they will emerge healthier in the new normal.
The survey, which polled 8,000 consumers in eight Asia Pacific markets, including Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Columbia, Taiwan and Vietnam, also shed light on the motivations behind the consumers' recent dietary and changes in lifestyle, to inspire more people to adopt better nutrition and lifestyle habits to enhance their overall well-being now and in to the future.
“The hard times we are currently facing has redefined the way we remain healthy and active inside the comfort of our own homes. It has been challenging, but we've learned that there is always room to make changes to improve our lifestyles, especially when those changes can lead to lasting leads to your own well-being,” said Steven Chin, General Manager and Director, Herbalife Nutrition Malaysia.
“From the survey, almost 50% of Malaysians make changes to their diet, with 61% consuming more fruits, vegetables, along with other plant-based foods and consuming less meat. In fact, more consumers want to eat nutrient-dense, plant-based proteins try not to know how to start. This reveals an excuse for wider public nutrition education to assist consumers make smarter decisions within their daily diets.”
Consumers believe they'll emerge healthier than before
According to the survey findings, 49% of respondents in Malaysia make a significant change to their diet program. Among the top motivators for changing their diet include:
- Their health (75%)
- Weight loss (38%)
- More cost-effective (38%)
- More environmentally-friendly (21%)
The key reasons for making dietary changes over these times as opposed to following through sometimes include:
- Had time to research healthier foods (57%)
- Had time to cook many learn new recipes (48%)
- Wanted to use time at home for any positive change (44%)
Beyond making changes for their diet, 63% of Malaysians also started to do more exercise.
A shift towards plant-based diets
Diving deeper into the dietary changes, 61% of consumers in Malaysia who have made changes for their diet started eating more vegetables and fruit, 47% ate less meat, while 41% chose to eat more plant-based foods.
Additionally, 56% of Malaysians displayed a larger openness to plant-based food options than ever before. With that, food chains in Malaysia are actually producing more meat-free plant-based products, catering to this rising fast-emerging segment that champions a sustainable and healthier food intake solution.
Based on the survey, here are some from the preferred sources of plant-based protein by Malaysians:
- Soy and soy-based food (37%)
- Nuts and seeds (24%)
- Other types of beans (13%)
Positive health impact, sustained dietary changes expected
When it comes to the impact of the dietary changes, a large majority (82%) of Malaysians have seen an optimistic improvement in their own health. Additionally, 69% thought that their dietary changes this time around have lasted longer compared to a different time. As a result, 82% plan to keep your dietary changes for that foreseeable future.
To help consumers maintain their new diets in the new normal, having easy-to-follow diet plans came up top for Malaysians (58%) because the key factor to keep up with their healthier nutrition regime. Additionally, 49% asserted having a health and wellness coach is needed, while 45% chose convenient meal alternatives that don't take very long to create.
