Commentary: Obesity is a disease – treating it like one could be a game changer for healthcare

If obesity is seen not just as a personal struggle but a disease of public health concern, we can look for systemic solutions, says Novi Health’s Kyle Tan on World Obesity Day (Mar 4).

An obese man standing at a bus stop (Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis)

SINGAPORE: For 52-year-old Michael*, food noise was a reality. No matter how much he ate, he never did experience the sensation of fullness. Diet after diet failed – not for a lack of discipline but because the hunger never truly subsided.

Obesity has been seen as a simple problem of willpower, diet, and exercise for decades. But science is now pointing to it being far more complex than a physical sign of our moral failings.

Obesity is now recognised – by the World Health Organization and many medical professional bodies – as a chronic disease influenced by genetics, hormones and environmental factors. There is increasing evidence that metabolic and hormonal imbalances can make weight loss challenging without the help of medical intervention.

It is this shift in understanding that is changing how we view and approach obesity management. Those who have struggled with their weight have long been told to “try harder” and just find it within themselves to eat less and move more.

Identifying obesity as a disease is a real game changer, especially when it comes to destigmatising the condition. Treating obesity as a medical condition opens the door to better support and resource allocation, including how such treatments that can lead to lasting improvements in health could be paid for.

CONTROLLING HUNGER AND SATIETY

Things all changed for Michael when he started on a weight-loss drug. For the first time in his life, he knew what being satiated felt like after every meal.

Over the next year, he lost more than 20 per cent of his body weight. His blood pressure and blood sugar improved, and he was able to cut back on multiple medications. But to him, the biggest win was finally feeling in control of his own hunger.

Michael’s case is not unique. New weight loss medications (such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists) are revolutionising how we treat obesity by helping people regulate hunger and satiety. Patients taking these medications can lose up to 20 per cent of their body weight on average.

But improvements go beyond weight loss. Research in the United States has shown that weekly injections of tirzepatide or semaglutide can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by more than 90 per cent over three years.

They have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and renal disease in individuals with diabetes; and improve numerous weight-related conditions such as fatty liver, obstructive sleep apnea and joint pains. Emerging research even suggests potential longevity benefits, through the improvement of cardiovascular and metabolic health and its neuroprotective effects.

Source: CNA (https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/obesity-disease-choice-diet-exercise-medication-lose-weight-4972646)