Kim's weight gain began during the Covid-19 pandemic and spiraled out of control. By July, when she visited Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, she weighed 91.2 kg, stood 1.62 m tall, and had a body mass index (BMI) of 34.8 (kg/m2), classifying her as obese class two. Tests revealed complications from obesity, including grade three fatty liver disease, blood lipid disorders, prediabetes, high uric acid, and polycystic ovaries.

Doctor Tran Huu Thanh Tung from the Endocrinology - Diabetes Department at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City explained that with a visceral fat measurement of 215 cm2, more than twice the safe level, Kim was at increased risk for insulin resistance leading to high blood sugar, diabetes, and heightened inflammatory responses, increasing cytokine secretion which contributes to stroke. High visceral fat can also contribute to issues such as cognitive decline, gout, asthma, osteoarthritis, back pain, breast cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

Doctor Tung advises Kim on weight loss. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctor Tung advises Kim on weight loss. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctor Tung attributed the rapid weight gain and subsequent difficulty losing it partly to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. When someone gains weight, the number of fat storage cells doesn't change; instead, the cells expand to store more fat, altering their response to and storage of nutrients, thus resisting weight loss efforts.

"Effective obesity treatment requires maintaining weight loss for a specific period (3-6 months) to allow fat cells to establish a new 'memory'," Doctor Tung said.

Kim received a personalized treatment plan combining medical, nutritional, and exercise approaches for safe, effective, and manageable weight loss. Within two weeks, she lost 5 kg and continues on a path towards her goal of losing 18-20 kg.

Duc Hanh