WHO through its official websitecalled on Southeast Asian countries to strengthen policies promoting healthy diets and physical activity to combat the rising rates of obesity, obese and non-communicable diseases comparable to diabetes and cancer, which at the moment are the leading causes of death within the region.
Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, said obesity and metabolic disorders were on the rise, affecting each children and adults, and resulting in a rise in heart problems, diabetes and cancer, which now account for nearly two-thirds of deaths within the region.
About 5 million children under the age of 5 and 37.3 million children aged 5 to 19 are obese. Rapid urbanization and economic growth have exacerbated unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity and increased sedentary lifestyles. Nearly 74% of adolescents and 50% of adults are usually not physically lively enough.
Obesity and noncommunicable diseases pose a serious challenge to achieving the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which goals to scale back premature deaths from these diseases. Wazed stressed the necessity for greater than just knowledge and behavioral change; an environment that supports healthy decisions can be essential.
She called for strong implementation of policies in homes, schools and retail settings, in addition to fiscal incentives for healthy eating. While progress has been made, comparable to food labeling and taxes on sweetened drinks, more is required to encourage healthier lifestyles.
Brunei has the very best rate of obese people in Southeast Asia, in line with the most recent data from The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency, covering the period from 2016 to 2024. The data measures the share of obese adults in Southeast Asia, with obesity defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher.
On the opposite hand, in line with a publication titled “Combating Obesity in Southeast Asian Countries: Current Status and the Way Forward“The prevalence of obesity in Southeast Asia has increased rapidly since 1995, with countries comparable to Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam recording the fastest growth. The publication further notes that obesity trends at the moment are spreading not only amongst adults but additionally amongst children and adolescents.
| Country | Projected annual increase in adult obesity 2020–2035 (%) | Projected annual increase in childhood obesity 2020–2035 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Brunei Darussalam | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| Cambodia | 5.8 | 8.1 |
| Indonesia | 5.8 | 7.9 |
| Laos | 6.1 | 8.9 |
| Malaysia | 4.7 | 5.3 |
| Myanmar | 5.5 | 8.4 |
| Philippines | 4.6 | 6.9 |
| Singapore | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Thailand | 5.3 | 6.2 |
| Vietnam | 6.3 | 9.8 |
The World Obesity Atlas 2035 projections also indicate that the prevalence of obesity amongst adults will double – from 4.0% to 10.0% amongst men and from 8.0% to 16.0% amongst women.
At the regional level, ASEAN member states have committed to combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs), comparable to obesity, through the Post-2015 ASEAN Health Development Agenda. This Agenda includes health priorities and work programmes in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, including promoting healthy lifestyles and stopping obesity.
At the national level, countries comparable to the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Myanmar have made obesity a key priority of their National Nutrition Action Plans (NPAN). These countries have set obesity control goals, with policies including empowering communities about nutrition, regulating the marketing of unhealthy foods, food labeling, and promoting early detection.
Thailand has implemented the “2nd Strategic Framework for Food Management 2019-2037,” specializing in nutrition education and integrating nutrition knowledge. Meanwhile, the Philippines has proposed laws for a comprehensive National Integrated Obesity Management Program to scale back obesity and supply related services.
Countries within the region have also developed official food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) to advertise healthy eating and stop malnutrition, including guidelines on physical activity as a part of a holistic health strategy.
