Partnerships and dialogue much needed to combat obesity

THE obesity and overweight epidemic is escalating rapidly in South-east Asia, including in Singapore. According to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the country faces the second-highest overweight prevalence in South-east Asia at 32.8 per cent, second only to Malaysia (38.5 per cent).

Across the region, obesity rates increased by an average of 28 per cent between 2010 and 2014. In particular, the obesity prevalence rate in Indonesia and Vietnam has grown over three times as fast as those in the United Kingdom and the United States.

While the current prevalence of obesity in South-east Asia is still relatively low compared to global standards, there is no doubt that the obesity rate in Asean is climbing, with some countries even experiencing high levels of childhood obesity.