[MEDIA RELEASE] Gut feeling is real science: Know your microbiome!

Did you know that more than half of your body is not human? The human cells make up roughly less than half of the body’s total cell count, while the rest are microbes. To understand the other half of ourselves, the Science Media Centre (SMC) Malaysia organised a webinar “Gut feeling is real science: Know your microbiome!” in conjunction with World Microbiome Day 2020 which was celebrated worldwide on Saturday, June 27.

[FEATURED ARTICLE] The Gut Microbiome and Obesity

Featured articles are the main stories in which the Science Media Centra Malaysia focuses in great detail on a special topic, event or person and its impact on our everyday lives. In conjunction with World Microbiome Day on 27 June 2020, Aliya Ahmad Nabil looks into the gut microbiome and its links with obesity.

[OPINION] What does it take to change the behaviour of Malaysians? – Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha

COVID-19 has shown that Malaysians don't change behaviours through raising awareness and knowledge - despite the numerous health messaging, advisories by the Government and the Senior Minister (Security Cluster) and constant pleading by the Director-General of Health Malaysia in his daily press briefings. We needed to create policies (i.e. SOPs) and strictly enforce those SOPs to achieve behavioural change.

[EXPERT REACTION] Obesity risk factor for COVID-19 infection?

While the relation between obesity and COVID-19 is not fully known, there are emerging studies pointing to obesity as one of the top underlying condition for people aged 60 years old and under who are hospitalised for the coronavirus. Severe obesity reportedly increases the risk of a major COVID-19 complication known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We asked experts to comment on obesity as a risk factor for becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.