Obesity is a disease just like other chronic diseases

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition characterised by excess body fat. Malaysia's current obesity rate among adults aged 18 years and older is 19.7 per cent, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019. That means the national adult obesity rate is expected to more than double in about 12 years. Normal BMI range for Asians is 18.5- 22.9 kg/m2. How do you calculate BMI? Weight divided by height in metres squared. 23 and above is overweight, 27.5 and above is obese. But recent studies suggest that BMI should not be the sole determinant for the diagnosis of obesity. Other physical findings such as body composition and waist circumference should be taken into account. What are the complications of obesity? They range from head to toe; Stroke, sleep apnea, GERD, heart problems, accumulation of fat in the liver, osteoarthritis. And the list goes on.

Image taken from: Dr Lydia Ofori·Endocrinology. (2023, May 17). Obesity: Body mass index. Geeky Medics. https://geekymedics.com/obesity/

Physical activity plays a big role in the management of obesity. The normal guidelines for adults is 150 minutes per week of moderate- intensity physical activity. This includes aerobic exercise like walking. But for weight loss, you should aim for more, around 250 minutes per week. Physical activity and reduced caloric intake are both needed to control body weight. Diet is typically necessary to lose weight, but physical activity is essential to maintain weight loss. Moreover, studies have shown that people who were obese but met the recommended guidelines had the same years of life lost as those who were normal weight but didn’t exercise and regardless of weight loss outcomes, obese individuals who exercise regularly have lower cardiovascular risk and less loss of muscle mass. This shows that people who are fit experience a protective effect, independent of weight.

Weight is a sensitive issue for many people, more so for those living with obesity. Obesity is a disease just like other chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Therefore, a holistic approach is the key to successful and sustainable weight management.

References 1. Institute for Public Health 2020. National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019: Non-communicable diseases, healthcare demand, and health literacy—Key Findings 2. Kelly, J., & Clayton, J. S. (2021). Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review Manual (3rd ed.). ACLM.