SUBANG JAYA, Sept. 13 -- Malaysian health policymakers must rethink how they engage with youths by using catchy messages and apps to break through to the "30-seconds attention span" generation.

Dr Mohamad Farhan Rusli, a public health medicine specialist with the Ministry of Health (MOH), said healthcare professionals must first acknowledge the generational gap and the reality that they do not fully understand youth culture before trying to push lifestyle changes.

Recalling his experience teaching, Dr Farhan said he once joked that drinking high-sugar beverages was like paying "installments" toward diabetes.

"Do you guys like boba, bubble tea? And they'll reply 'yes'. And I say, 'that's like an installment into your future diabetic fun...