Herbalife’s Continued Commitment to Nutrition and Wellness in Malaysia via Collaboration with UiTM, UPM and NSM

 

Herbalife, a premier health and wellness company, community, and platform, has been at the forefront of Malaysia’s health and nutrition landscape. Through various collaborations with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Herbalife has positively impacted more than 5,000 students, athletes, and future health professionals in the past five years. 

Steven Chin, Senior Director and General Manager of Herbalife Malaysia and Singapore, commented, “We are pleased to have formed valuable collaborations united by a shared vision of building a healthier nation. Through these partnerships, we have been able to educate, inspire, and drive positive change in health and wellness. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, we remain committed to spearheading initiatives that empower individuals with science-backed nutrition.” 

Sports Science Collaboration with UiTM and UPM

One of its most impactful partnerships has been with UiTM, Malaysia’s largest university. Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UiTM’s Faculty of Sports Science & Recreation in 2021, Herbalife has championed good nutrition and balanced living through knowledge-sharing sessions and partnerships with key sports organisations like Institut Sukan Negara, the Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM), and the Malaysian Exercise and Sport Science Association (MESSA).

In 2022, Herbalife expanded its efforts by providing targeted sports nutrition education to UiTM’s professional football team and student-athletes. The ‘Soy Protein and Sports Performance’ session, led by Herbalife’s Director of Sports Performance and Education, benefited over 100 athletes and sports professionals by providing essential dietary knowledge for optimising performance.

The momentum continued in 2023 with the MASM Football Science Workshop Series, where over 100 students, athletes, and coaches benefitted from a session led by Herbalife’s Fitness Advisory Board member and Head of Strength and Conditioning for the LA Galaxy, Adam Waterson, who shared insights on elite performance training and recovery. In the same year, Herbalife launched its first-ever Entrepreneurial Programme with UiTM, equipping 80 students with business acumen and nutrition expertise. 

Associate Prof Dr. YM Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, UiTM, said, “We are delighted with our collaboration with Herbalife, which has played an integral role in advancing sports nutrition education and sporting performance within UiTM. This partnership has empowered our students and athletes with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in their sporting careers and entrepreneurial aspirations.”

In 2024, Herbalife deepened its sports science collaboration by working alongside UPM’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. A key initiative, the ‘Athletic Mindset and Data-Driven Training’ webinar connected students with global sports nutrition and performance experts, providing insights into hydration, nutrient timing, and recovery techniques.

Advancing Nutrition Science and Public Health with Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM)

Beyond academic partnerships, Herbalife has been pivotal in advancing nutritional science and public health through its collaboration with NSM. Since 2020, this partnership has enabled expert-led webinars and scientific discussions on critical nutrition topics such as the gut-brain axis and cognitive health in aging. Furthermore, Herbalife has collaborated with NSM nutritionists to publish various research articles, aligning with NSM’s advocacy for sustainable and evidence-based dietary solutions. 

Since 2020, Herbalife has also sponsored the NSM Publication Prize, an initiative that recognises outstanding contributions in key areas such as functional foods, ageing, healthy eating, physical activity, dietary fibre, soya protein, and the nutritional status of the general public. 

Commenting on the collaboration, the President of NSM, Associate Professor Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, said, “Our partnership with Herbalife aligns with our mission to promote, advance, and disseminate scientific knowledge of food and nutrition while encouraging healthy eating and active living among Malaysians. Through ongoing scientific discussions, we continue to foster innovation in public health nutrition, ultimately benefiting communities across the country and also the region.”