According to 2022 statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), over one billion people globally are obese, comprising 650 million adults and 340 million adolescents. The World Obesity Federation predicts that by 2035, 51% of the world's population, equivalent to 4 billion people, will be obese or overweight.

Master, Doctor Tran Nguyen Quynh Tram, Deputy Head of the Endocrinology - Diabetes Department at Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City, states that visceral fat in overweight and obese individuals causes over 200 different diseases. These include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and various cancers. Such complications often manifest in individuals with significant abdominal fat, high blood triglyceride levels, a family history of type 2 diabetes, or a combination of these factors.

Excessive weight often correlates with metabolic syndrome, which can easily lead to diabetes. Without proper weight management, individuals with diabetes face a high risk of liver failure, kidney failure, and heart failure, severely diminishing their quality of life.

A doctor advises a patient on nutrition. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Overweight also affects a patient's psychological well-being, often leading to feelings of self-consciousness, social withdrawal, and inferiority, which can negatively impact mental health. Stress and pressure, in turn, promote inflammation, which is detrimental to health. Overweight and obesity are linked to low-grade chronic inflammation, which can accelerate the aging process. This inflammation contributes to the development of various conditions, including insulin resistance and some cancers.

Excess weight can cause respiratory problems such as sleep apnea syndrome, bronchitis, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and asthma. These conditions disrupt breathing patterns and oxygen absorption, leading to complications that reduce life quality.

Doctor Tram advises obese and overweight individuals to reduce their weight by 5-15% within three to six months to improve health, prevent complications, and mitigate co-occurring diseases. Individuals with a BMI greater than 35 should aim for a weight reduction of 20% or more.

Duc Hanh