Part 1: Understanding obesity biology, stigma, and why weight loss is so difficult

Описание: Obesity is not a personal failure — it is a chronic disease shaped by biology, environment, and physiology. In this public talk, Professor Emeritus Professor Dr Chan Siew Pheng, Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist, explains why obesity should be approached with science and compassion, not stigma.

She introduces the respectful term People With Obesity (PWO) and highlights Malaysia’s growing health challenge, where many individuals live with the “3 plus 1” combination of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity — all in the same person.

Drawing from Ministry of Health data, Professor Dr Chan outlines how rates of overweight and obesity in Malaysia have risen from 40% to over 50% in just over a decade. She explains how obesity is diagnosed using BMI and waist circumference, and why Asian populations require lower BMI cut-off points due to higher risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower body weights.

The talk also explores findings from the ACTION Malaysia study, revealing widespread awareness of obesity’s health impact — yet persistent blame, stigma, and lack of effective treatment. Many people regain lost weight due to biological defence mechanisms that slow metabolism, increase hunger, and drive cravings.

Professor Dr Chan explains how eating behavior is regulated by the brain through homeostatic eating (hunger), hedonic eating (pleasure), and self-regulation — and why the body actively fights weight loss, leading to frustration and yo-yo dieting.

This session offers a clear, evidence-based perspective on obesity as a medical condition, not a character flaw, and why long-term management requires understanding biology, not just willpower.