Many people often associate being overweight with laziness or lack of discipline, but medical evidence confirms that obesity is not determined solely by individual effort.
In fact, obesity is classified as a chronic disease impacting public health. Moving beyond outdated stereotypes to accurately assess physical risk is the crucial first step in effectively addressing this condition.
The obesity situation in Thailand is clearly expanding, according to physical examination data from the 7th Thai National Health Survey 2024-2025 conducted by the Health Systems Research Institute in collaboration with the National Health Survey Office.
The report states that the proportion of people aged 15 and older with obesity has increased to 45%, up from 42.2% recorded in the 2019-2020 survey.
Nearly half of Thais aged 15 and above face ongoing health risks, especially in the Central region where obesity prevalence is the highest nationwide at 51.1%.
Obesity is directly linked to major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular conditions.
the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies obesity asa "chronic disease"that can recur, with causes beyond just eating habits and willpower, including deeper factors such as
Additionally, weight control is influenced by hormones, sleep, stress, certain medications, and work patterns. Therefore, advice to“eat less and exercise more”may not always be effective for everyone.
Judging people with obesity as not caring for themselves often causes shame that deters them from seeking medical checkups. This frequently leads to extreme dieting attempts that are unsustainable, resulting in repeated weight gain known as the yo-yo effect.
The increasing obesity rates among working adults and teenagers highlight the need to change attitudes. Paknarin Bulakul, Managing Director of Sillic Pharma Co., Ltd., suggests society should shift from judging body shape to promoting understanding of health risks, encouraging people to undergo early body screening.
Health can be initially evaluated simply by measuring Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference as follows:
Assessment method | Risk criteria | Meaning |
Body Mass Index (BMI) | Over 23 | Indicates overweight status |
Body Mass Index (BMI) | Over 25 | Indicates obesity |
Waist circumference (men) | 90 cm or more / 36 inches or more | Indicates abdominal obesity |
Waist circumference (women) | 80 cm or more / 32 inches or more | Indicates abdominal obesity |
Note: Those meeting these criteria should have blood sugar and lipid levels tested and inform their doctor of their health history.
Obesity is a chronic health condition more complex than a lack of discipline. Often, lifestyle adjustments alone are insufficient, requiring medical support.
For individuals with severe obesity, bariatric surgery is a medical option to reduce risks of serious diseases—not a cosmetic procedure. Shifting from body judgment to consulting specialists and avoiding unregulated weight loss drugs is key to sustainable health.
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