Note: These
figures are based on simple counting method of topic headings and do not
allow for differences
in length or depth
of feature articles.
COMMENTS
ON MOST POPULAR TOPICS
This month survey of
consumer magazines, spotlights magazines for sale in Malaysia during
September 2003. Twenty two English and Bahasa language focusing on women
affairs, health and beauty, food and cooking and parenting and
children’s health were included in the survey. For more details contact
the AFIC office (info@afic.org).
Functional
Foods
This topic was the
most frequent topic featured in both this years sample and AFIC’s
Malaysian magazine survey in August 2002 (see Sept ’02 AFICNews). Indeed
this is a topic of significant and growing interest throughout the
region, but perhaps more strongly in Malaysia than elsewhere in Asia.
The main functional food themes in this month surveys were on the
benefits of fruit, vegetable and fish consumption, with references
primarily to their vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content. For an
overview of this subject, click on Dietary Supplements & Functional
Foods – An Overview -
http://www.afic.org/FFA Issue 17 March 2003 - Dietary Supplements &
Functional Foods - An Overview.htm
Healthy
Lifestyles
Advice on modifiable
diet and lifestyles behaviours such as physical activity levels, use of
alcohol and tobacco was the second most common topic featured in the
magazine sample, and has been in the top five topics in all of AFIC’s
magazine surveys. Advice and commentary featured a range of themes and
sub-topics, and included a number of feature stories, emphasizing the
benefits of a balanced and varied diet. Food groups emphasized were
primarily fruit and vegetables.
AFIC’s recent
article on ‘Metabolic Syndrome – A Lifestyle Issue’, provides an
overview of current scientific opinion on recommendations for healthy
diet and lifestyle click on
http://www.afic.org/FFA Issue 18 Metabolic Syndrome.htm
Children’s
Diet and Health
Interestingly, this
topic received very little coverage in the 2002 Malaysian magazine
survey, but 13% of stories tracked in the 2003 survey were on this
topic. A wide range of themes were noted, with greatest emphasis on
advice for optimal nutrition for growth and development of children,
including avoiding iron-deficiency anemia, the benefits of DHA,
encouraging healthy food choices. Also some, albeit limited focus on
weight management in childhood and the vital role parents play in
setting examples for healthy living and eating.
AFIC has a number of
publications designed to encourage children to adopt healthy lifestyles
and diet.
Click on:
Physical
Activity
Physical activity is
another topic which received very little coverage in the 2002 Malaysian
magazine survey, but this topic received 10% of total coverage of
magazines surveyed in 2003. The articles tracked emphasized the role of
regular physical activity in the prevention of chronic degenerative
disease, especially osteoporosis and coronary vascular disease. Yoga,
tai chi and walking were particularly emphasized. For a review of the
benefits of physical activity, click on Physical Activity – A Review of
Some of the Health Benefits of Regular Physical Activity -
http://www.afic.org/Physical Activity A Review of some of the health
benefits of regular physical activity.htm
Infant
Feeding
This remains a
popular topic in the Malaysian magazine press, 10% coverage in 2002 and
9% in the 2003 survey. Most feature stories emphasized the benefits of
breast-feeding, but also included information on nutrition for premature
babies, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), causes of diarrhea and advice on
weaning.
The
Asian Food information Centre is a not-for profit Singapore-registered
organization.
Its
mission is to effectively communicate sound science based information on
food safety, health and nutrition to the media and other key audiences
in
Asia
