Obesity increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease! 4 reminders to help clarify your weight loss concepts

One in two adults and one in three children and adolescents in Taiwan are overweight or obese. Be careful that obesity increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease! Experts warn that obesity has an impact on the health of the entire population, bringing medical burdens, labor and economic losses. March 4 is World Obesity Day. Chia Shu-li, deputy director of the National Health Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, explained that the theme of this year's World Obesity Day is "Let's talk about obesity and its impact. Face the impact of obesity and start a dialogue now." The public is encouraged to pay attention to the problems caused by obesity and to start a dialogue with professional medical staff, parents and friends, and even teachers and students to face the obesity problem together.

Deputy Director of the National Health Administration, Jia Shuli, also called for the implementation of healthy body posture and body posture management in daily life, as overweight and obesity are risk factors for non-communicable diseases, such as using fragmented time to exercise, changing lifestyles, and establishing good eating habits.

As for the prevention and treatment of obesity, there have been significant changes and progress in the medical community's understanding of the causes of obesity, weight loss medications such as surgery and medication, and other clinical evidence. In particular, evidence shows that reducing body weight by 5-10% can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular mortality and other diseases. The National Health Administration, the Taiwan Obesity Medical Association, and the Taiwan Pediatrics Association jointly put forward the following four reminders:

4 reminders to help clarify your weight loss concepts

Facing the obesity problem squarely, affecting all people regardless of age

Lin Wenyuan, chairman of the Taiwan Obesity Medical Association, pointed out that according to the World Obesity Federation's forecast, the rate of overweight or obese adults in Taiwan is increasing at a rate of 4.1% per year, and the 5% increase among children and adolescents is not to be underestimated. Some estimates suggest that the global cost of obesity will reach $4.3 trillion by 2035, accounting for nearly 3% of global GDP.

Ni Yanxuan, president of the Taiwan Pediatric Association, also explained that childhood obesity may cause sleep apnea, precocious puberty, abnormal development of height and weight, and the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and diabetes will also occur early. Since more than 70% will continue to be obese in adulthood and even have a higher risk of death, the impact of obesity on the growth of the country's future pillars cannot be ignored.

The golden rule for maintaining a healthy body: move more and eat less

The post-epidemic working style and sedentary lifestyle have reduced physical activity, and the easy availability of refined and fast food, the convenience of delivery, and the habit of eating out have also made it difficult for people to eat healthily. The key factor in weight loss is to increase the basal metabolic rate and reduce fat to achieve changes in body composition through diet control and regular exercise habits. Chairman Lin Wenyuan encourages obese patients to discuss with professional medical personnel and develop a personalized weight loss plan that includes multiple suggestions such as exercise, diet, and possibly psychological evaluation, so as to identify the individual pain points that cause obesity and maintain a healthy body shape for a long time.

The National Health Administration, the Taiwan Obesity Medical Association, and the Taiwan Pediatric Association jointly issued four major reminders. (Photo courtesy of Taiwan Obesity Medical Association)

Legal weight loss drugs require a doctor's prescription

In the past three years, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has approved two major types of legal weight-loss drugs. Chairman Lin Wenyuan explained that GLP-1 incretin reduces body weight by reducing fat mass, and the relative reduction in visceral fat is greater than that in subcutaneous fat; the other type of drug suppresses appetite by combining the ingredients of antidepressants and opioid antagonists. These drugs, combined with previously approved methods such as surgery, provide the medical community with a variety of intervention methods to assist patients in weight loss. Unfortunately, many people think that these drugs can be obtained and used on their own.

Chairman Lin Wenyuan said that the Food and Drug Administration has issued reminders many times and the Customs has stepped up inspections of illegally imported drugs, reminding the public that weight loss drugs are all prescription drugs, and that people should not use drugs of unknown origin, should not take drugs online, and avoid using counterfeit or inferior drugs. Weight loss drugs should be prescribed by a physician after evaluation and dispensed by a pharmacist to improve effectiveness, reduce side effects, and ensure correct and safe weight loss.

Start a conversation without hesitation

Chairman Lin Wenyuan called on people who want to lose weight to give priority to adjusting their diet and exercising. If they still cannot reach their target weight after changing their lifestyle, they should seek proper medical channels. Obesity is the root cause of many diseases and should not be a vague topic. Instead of waiting for the other party to bring up the topic, doctors and patients can start the topic with BMI and waist circumference.

Chairman Ni Yanxuan reminded that if parents want to help children lose weight, they need to start with the family's diet and healthy living habits. It is recommended that schools provide health posture reports to care about children's posture status, and consult the pediatric medical team when necessary. Chairman Ni Yanxuan specifically pointed out that in fact, children over 12 years old, if evaluated and necessary, have evidence that they can use medication to assist in weight loss. Parents are encouraged to take the initiative to start a dialogue and not miss the opportunity for healthy growth. Chairman Ni Yanxuan explained that children over the age of 12 have the opportunity to use medication to assist in weight loss if it is necessary after evaluation.

The "100 Questions + About Obesity" manual published by the National Health Administration in 2019 has been around for five years. During this period, there have been significant changes and improvements in concepts, medication, and prevention and treatment measures. This year, many experts from different fields have been gathered to jointly compile and update it. An updated electronic version will be released soon for free download by the public, becoming a practical tool for the public to start a conversation about weight loss.

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