On World Obesity Day, marked annually on March 4, the Royal College of Physicians of Thailand's Network of Thais without Big Belly, in collaboration with the Diabetes Association of Thailand and Novo Nordisk Pharma (Thailand) Co Ltd, organised a panel discussion on "Let's Talk about Obesity".
Speakers at the event shared their views on obesity and how this year's World Obesity Day could serve as the starting point for people with the overweight issue to change themselves and help contribute to a healthy society.
Professor Emeritus Wannee Nitiyanant, MD, President of the Network of Thais without Big Belly, pointed out that the obesity situation in Thailand is "increasingly worrying".
A survey in 2019 and 2020 found that 42.2% of Thais aged 15 and over were overweight while 39.4% were potbellied. One startling fact was that more than 20 million Thais had obesity.
Bangkok has the largest share of the overweight Thai population - as much as 47%. Something worrying is that 65.3% of women in the Thai capital city are overweight, which puts them at risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
"The current situation is very worrying. For every survey on the health of Thais conducted every five years, we found more overweight people," Dr Wannee said.
However, more and more people have paid attention to the issue of obesity, joining the increasingly popular health-conscious trend. They include people who want to prevent obesity and patients who are recovering from obesity.
Colonel Sirakarn Tejavanija, MD, from the Clinical Nutrition Unit of Phramongkutklao Hospital and College of Medicine who is also a committee member of the Network of Thais without Big Belly, said that as more people are aware of the obesity issue, many others avoid talking about it. As a result, a "wall" has been built around obese patients, leaving them in an environment that promotes obesity, according to her. She said that it is important to educate this group of people on the correct attitude.
"We do not live alone all the time. We have to go out to work between 8-12 hours each day. That's when we stay outside our homes. The environment has much impact on us. So, our responsibility to ourselves may not be enough. We need a collective sense of responsibility to tackle this problem together," Dr Sirakarn said.
Many people wonder how fat is considered obese. Many factors are involved, including height, weight, body fat, and muscle mass.
Sira Korpaisarn, MD, from Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, explained that body fat can be measured with the body mass index (BMI). A simple calculation of the BMI involves dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by their height (in metres squared). A BMI of over 25 is considered overweight for Asians.
"To lose weight, you eat less and exercise more, but genetics also has an important role to play. Families with obesity have some hormone issues that prevent them from feeling full and may lead to overeating," Dr Sira said.
He also suggested that people aiming to lose weight should consider the mission as running a marathon, and not a 100-metre dash. "You need to be consistent and do it every day. Look for a method that makes you happy and lets you do it long-term."
For many women, being overweight equals not being beautiful. They consider being slim as the gold standard for beauty. However, Anchilee Scott-Kemmis, the 2021 Miss Universe Thailand beauty queen, viewed that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For her, it is more important for you to love and value yourselves. "Be confident in your body and ensure that you take good care of your health," she said.
"I don't just consider the BMI alone. I also take into account muscle mass. I take exercises regularly, but it's not aimed at meeting the general standard of beauty. I do it for my good health and happiness," Anchilee said.
There are many formulas for weight loss, such as keto and intermittent fasting (IF). There are many success stories from those who adopt the shortcut methods as the debate about their pros and cons continues.
For Dr Sirakarn, a surefire method for the long term involves taking a balanced diet from the five main food groups, under the close supervision of a doctor and a nutritionist. "A good method must require no conditions," she said.
Source: ไวสแบรนด์
