According to the Action-Vietnam study, a recent study on awareness, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers in obesity treatment in Vietnam published in late 6/2025, only 56% of people with obesity recognize their condition. This reveals a significant gap in public awareness. Instead of being recognized as a chronic disease requiring professional medical support, obesity is often viewed as a consequence of "lack of willpower" or "laziness." This misunderstanding traps individuals in a cycle of self-blame, shame, and avoidance of medical consultation, allowing obesity to silently impact both physical and mental health.

Associate Professor Nguyen Anh Tuan, co-author of the Action-Vietnam study, shares key findings. *Photo: Novo Nordisk*

Associate Professor Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Digestive Surgery and Head of the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the 108 Military Central Hospital, and a co-author of the study, stated that barriers to treatment begin with a lack of awareness among patients. Many individuals don't fully understand their condition or the degree of their obesity, and therefore, they hesitate to discuss their weight with doctors. They often struggle with weight loss through dieting and exercise without professional guidance, partly due to feelings of shame and fear of stigma.

According to Associate Professor Tuan, overweight and obese individuals tend to delay seeking medical help, often taking up to 5 years before consulting healthcare professionals. Most conversations about their weight occur only after serious obesity-related complications arise. This lack of early, open, and regular communication between doctors and patients contributes to the rising obesity rates in Vietnam.

Even among medical professionals, 40% of doctors surveyed in the Action-Vietnam study admitted to being hesitant to raise the issue of obesity with patients, fearing a lack of cooperation or emotional distress.

Furthermore, current medical training in Vietnam doesn't adequately equip doctors with the knowledge and tools to treat obesity—a chronic disease requiring a multidisciplinary approach involving endocrinology, nutrition, psychology, rehabilitation, and surgical intervention. This often leads to patients receiving only generic advice: eat less, exercise more.

Associate Professor Tuan shared that between 1990 and 2019, obesity-related deaths in Vietnam increased sixfold (from 6,000 to nearly 38,000). This rate exceeds the global average and surpasses many countries in the region. "These numbers are not a forecast, but a warning," he emphasized. He added that obesity is a major contributor to non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cancer—diseases that account for over 80% of deaths in Vietnam.

Associate Professor Nguyen Anh Tuan presents data showing that the obesity rate in Vietnam is increasing faster than in other countries in the region. *Photo: Novo Nordisk*

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Vietnam is steadily rising. The World Obesity Atlas 2024 estimates that in 2025, nearly 20 million adults in Vietnam will be overweight or obese, reaching 25 million by 2035. With a current population of over 101.1 million, this means one in five adults faces overweight or obesity.

The World Obesity Atlas 2023 projected direct medical costs related to obesity in Vietnam to reach 569 million USD in 2025, a 50% increase from 2020 (372 million USD), and 1.269 billion USD by 2035. The report also estimated the total economic burden of obesity could reach 16.282 billion USD, representing 2% of Vietnam's GDP in 2035.

However, the healthcare system hasn't kept pace with the rising prevalence of obesity. Only a few specialized treatment centers exist in major hospitals like the National Hospital of Endocrinology, 108 Military Central Hospital, and Tam Anh Hospital.

Experts believe that effective obesity management requires a comprehensive approach in Vietnam, encompassing public education, doctor training, and healthcare policy adjustments. Most importantly, public perception must change: obesity should be recognized as a serious chronic disease requiring timely and appropriate treatment, free from stigma.

Associate Professor Tuan highlighted the current environment, with readily available high-calorie foods and sedentary lifestyles, as conducive to weight gain. It's crucial to acknowledge obesity as a serious chronic disease requiring structured treatment like diabetes or hypertension. "Treatment needs a multidisciplinary approach, where patients receive consistent, scientific counseling, monitoring, and medical intervention. This minimizes complications, improves quality of life, and reduces the long-term burden on society," Associate Professor Tuan said.

The Action-Vietnam study was released in late 6/2025:

*Kim Anh*