Vimut Hospital indicates that obesity is rampant in nearly half of the Thai population, revealing that 45% face "obesity."

Vimut Hospital points out that the "obesity" crisis is shaking the health of Thais! Statistics show a surge in obesity across almost half the country. Doctors warn of the silent threat of accumulated fat, increasing the risk of heart failure and a significant increase in diabetes.

March 4, 2569. While the world is spinning rapidly, the health of Thai people is facing a major "time bomb" called obesity. Recently, on World Obesity Day, statistics from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHPF) and the Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI) for 2568 revealed the alarming figure that 45% of Thai people aged 15 and older, or almost half the country, are overweight or obese.

These numbers aren't just about body shape or self-confidence; they're a warning sign of chronic diseases that are severely eating away at the body's systems from within.

Dr. Chanawat Chuantantikmol, Internist specializing in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Weight Management Center, Vimut Hospital. It has been revealed that many people mistakenly believe that obesity is merely an external problem. However, from a deeper nutritional and physiological perspective, it is the excessive accumulation of fat that disrupts the hormonal system.

"Obesity causes leptin resistance, resulting in the brain not signaling satiety even when the body has ample energy. Furthermore, fat releases inflammatory substances that constantly damage the cardiovascular system. Worse still, the body attempts to resist weight loss by reducing metabolism and stimulating hunger in an attempt to regain the weight."

When obesity strikes, it doesn't come alone; it's accompanied by life-threatening comorbidities. Dr. Chanawat outlines the risk factors as follows:

• • Type 2 diabetes: Enlarged fat cells become inflamed, leading to insulin resistance, which puts extra strain on the pancreas and makes it difficult to control blood sugar.
  • High blood pressure: The body retains excess water and salt, causing blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to spike.
  • Abnormal blood lipid levels: High triglyceride levels, low HDL (good cholesterol), and low LDL (bad cholesterol)—the type that easily adheres to the walls of blood vessels—are commonly found.
  • Heart failure: When blood vessels harden and narrow rapidly, the heart has to work harder continuously, which can eventually lead to failure.

Check now! Behaviors that "create illness" that you might be doing every day.

Urban living lifestyles are a major contributor to obesity, often unknowingly:

1. 1. Addiction to processed foods (Ultra-processed foods): Sausages, snacks, and frozen foods stimulate the brain to eat more but feel hungry for longer.
   2. The "sitting for too long" behavior: Sitting for 6–8 hours continuously disrupts metabolism and fat elimination.
   3. Chronic stress: When stressed, our brain signals us to crave comfort food.
   4. Sleep deprivation: Sleeping less than 6 hours a day stimulates hunger hormones and impairs insulin function, causing blood sugar to remain in the blood for longer periods.

Warning signs that require immediate medical attention. If you experience these symptoms, don't delay!

• I get tired unusually easily; I get out of breath even after doing light activity.
• Chronic knee or joint pain from weight-bearing pressure.
• Loud snoring or suspected sleep apnea.
• Special risk groups: Individuals with a BMI over 23, high blood pressure, or a family history of diabetes/heart disease at a young age.

The solution: Reducing costs by just 5–10% can change the world.

Vimut Hospital uses a Health-Centered approach to treatment, focusing on reducing the risk of comorbidities rather than just the numbers on the scale. Aiming for a reduction of only 5–10% of initial weight can significantly lower the risk of diseases.

Treatment begins with an assessment of BMI along with any underlying complications, such as fatty liver disease. The medical team will then plan a course of treatment including nutritional adjustments, exercise, weight-loss medication, or, in severe cases, gastric bypass surgery. All treatments must be under continuous monitoring because obesity is a chronic disease requiring discipline and long-term care.

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