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With obesity at the center of many chronic diseases, we take a look at the growing obesity epidemic in Asia, and how many are at risk.
Parts of the Asia-Pacific region — particularly South and Southeast Asia — have seen massive lifestyle changes over the years. But as people eat more and move less, the region has seen an alarming climb in the overweight population.
With obesity at the center of many chronic diseases, we take a look at the growing obesity epidemic in Asia, and how many are at risk.
The South and Southeast Asian regions are brimming with vitality, thanks to their booming, mostly young populations. But the economic flourish in recent years drove lifestyle changes in these regions, as people ate more food and exercised less.
This has led to some concerning realities.
Cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, heart attack, and stroke have become the leading causes of premature death in Asia. Meanwhile, India is home to 77 million persons with diabetes, second highest next to China.
While other lifestyle factors contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), obesity is one of its most significant causes. A high body mass index (BMI) poses a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, as well as:
While Southeast Asia has some of the lowest cases of overweight and obese persons globally, the region has observed an alarming trend of increase in the last 10 to 15 years.
Hello Health’s BMI calculator collected insights from thousands of users across the region over a span of 6 months. Based on those who interacted with the BMI calculator, Vietnam (43.74%), Cambodia (43.03%), and Taiwan (41.62%) had the highest number of healthy people.
Based on interactions with Hello Health's BMI calculator from 30 January to 29 July 2021
That said, these same countries also pulled in the highest number of borderline overweight people: Vietnam at 17.83%, Cambodia at 17.79%, and Taiwan at 19.23%, compared to the Philippines’ 13.71%, all of whom are at risk of obesity.
However, it’s a different story altogether once the numbers hit obesity classes.
India and Malaysia have the most number of people who are obese, with India recording 27.19% of Obese 1 respondents and 10.82% of Obese 2 respondents. Malaysia recorded 23.43% of Obese 1 individuals and 13.47% of Obese 2 individuals.
India and the Philippines, on the other hand, have the largest number of severely obese (Obese 3) individuals, who recorded a BMI score of 40 or higher, at 5.35% and 5.33%, respectively.
These figures from our own data coincide with global trends. According to the World Health Organization, 1.9 billion adults in Asia were overweight while 650 million people were obese, based on their latest data in 2016.
Consistent with external studies and Hello Health’s insights, we have uncovered that:
Studies show that the Asia-Pacific region has shown a change in dietary patterns throughout the region as food insecurity decreased, and more food became available to the populace. This is mainly credited to the rapid development in the region in the past 3 decades: according to the Asian Development Bank, Asia’s economic growth rates have averaged at 6% since the 2000s.
Asia’s economic prosperity has also led to changes in the region’s diet, as it made food more available at lower prices. This is what public health experts call the “nutrition transition,” where higher-calorie diets have replaced more traditional diets, increasing risk factors for obesity and other potential chronic diseases.
The region’s rapid urbanization has also led to a change in lifestyles. According to the World Health Organization, urban environments are also linked to more sedentary lifestyles, decreased physical activity, and a surge in illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
The increase in these so-called urban lifestyles across the region has also led to more instances of overweight and obesity rates in Asia. ADB reports that Asia’s urban population increased from 1990 to 2015, growing from one-third to now comprising one-half of the region.
Asia’s shift from agriculture to manufacturing industries and services — which typically don’t require as much physical activity — can also lead to weight gain, especially when compounded with urban trends of dining out over cooking at home, and longer travel times.
In countries like India, urbanization has especially led young people to adopt fat-rich, energy-dense junk foods in their diet, making adolescents and young adults more prone to becoming obese.
Obesity is a trigger and a risk factor for other serious and chronic conditions. Here are some of the conditions obesity can lead to:
Obesity is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). You are more likely to develop major risk factors for chronic kidney disease when you are obese, such as diabetes and hypertension. Studies show that diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease: 1 out of 4 people with diabetes also have kidney disease.
Obesity can leave you prone to developing cardiovascular disease. One of these is atherosclerosis, a condition that results from the buildup of plaque or fatty deposits in a person’s blood vessels.
Over time, plaque buildup can restrict blood vessels and can hinder proper circulation — potentially blocking it completely — which can lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
Studies show that obesity increases the risk of cancer. U.S. Cancer Statistics data shows that 55% of all cancers identified in women and 24% of those in men were associated with obesity.
Extra fat cells increase inflammation and produce estrogen, as well as other growth hormones — all of which cause cells to divide more often. This rapid cell division increases the risk of developing cancer cells.
Having too much excess fat can increase your risk for different types of cancer such as liver cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
Being obese can cause a number of health problems as the extra weight puts additional strain on the body, such as osteoarthritis. Heavy weight adds extra pressure on your knees, which makes it more difficult to support your weight. This can cause damage to your joints, and can make it difficult for your muscles to support your movement.
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