OBESITY is a chronic disease that demands active management and should not be dismissed as merely a lifestyle choice, experts warned at the APAC Cardiometabolic Summit 2025.
Prof Lim Lee Ling, Chair of the summit and Senior Endocrinology Consultant at the University of Malaya, stressed that societal attitudes and supportive environments are crucial in encouraging individuals living with obesity to seek appropriate medical care.
"To encourage someone living with obesity to seek medical consultation, the environment must support them. Everyone needs to understand that obesity is a disease, not just a lifestyle condition. It goes beyond weight or body mass index. We are talking about fat distribution, something that cannot be assessed without proper body composition evaluation," he said at the summit held at Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur.
Also attending the summit were Prof Arya Sharma, Professor Emeritus of Medicine from the University of Alberta, Canada, and Dr Georgia Rigas, National Fellow of SCOPE at the World Obesity Federation, Australia.
The event, organised by Novo Nordisk, convened leading regional and international specialists to address the urgent need for integrated, person-centred approaches in obesity, cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health.
Prof Lim highlighted that the government has issued clear mandates for clinicians, non-clinical professionals, and the public to actively tackle overweight and obesity issues to improve national health outcomes.
"All initiatives, including healthier living environments and nutrition labelling, are being implemented by the government. It is still too early to fully assess their impact as evaluation frameworks are still being developed," he noted.
Addressing systemic healthcare transformation, Lim stressed the importance of tackling weight-related stigma both in personal and professional spheres.
"Obesity is a complex and chronic condition that requires empathy, understanding, and evidence-based support. Creating a prejudice-free environment, whether in clinics, workplaces, or homes, is essential to help individuals seek treatment with confidence," he said.
Prof Arya Sharma described obesity as a lifelong condition for most individuals, likening its management to other chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. "Obesity cannot be cured but must be managed.
When someone has this disease, they are likely to live with it. Doctors should be the first point of contact, not the last," he said, emphasising the need for both patient recognition and trained medical professionals to ensure effective care.
Dr Georgia Rigas added that education remains vital, with continuous efforts required to enhance healthcare professional skills and strengthen training initiatives, as exemplified by platforms such as the APAC Cardiometabolic Summit 2025.
The summit underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive, empathetic, and evidence-driven response to obesity, aiming to reshape public perception and improve access to effective treatment for millions of Malaysians living with the condition. - December 10, 2025
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