Bumrungrad Hospital held a press conference titled “A Fresh Start From a Fit Body” to disclose the facts about overweight and obesity in Thais, which have caused massive economic losses for the country! Nearly 50% of Thais are overweight, reflecting that the Thai population is becoming obese faster and more severely than expected. Most people fail to lose weight. The true prevention method for obesity-related diseases is safe weight control under medical supervision, along with lifestyle, nutrition, exercise adjustments, medication, and advanced procedures.
Dr. Athirat Jarukitpipat, Chief Executive Officer of Bumrungrad Hospital, revealed that according to the World Obesity Federation (WOF) report, in 2025, over 800 million people worldwide suffer from obesity, with projections rising to 1 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, reported that 42.4% of Thais aged 15 and above are overweight or obese, a concerning figure for long-term health. Excess weight is not just an external appearance issue but a serious health problem and gateway to many dangerous non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver, and certain cancers.
Overweight and obesity among Thais also cause massive economic losses for the country. According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and WOF, in 2019, the cost of obesity-related issues for Thais amounted to 8.27 billion US dollars, or approximately 256.37 billion baht (31 baht per US dollar), equivalent to about 1.5% of Thailand’s 2019 GDP of 16.87 trillion baht, averaging 4,000 baht per person.
WOF’s forecast report indicates that if this problem is not urgently addressed or its trend slowed, by 2060—34 years from now—the economic impact on Thailand could rise to 180.78 billion US dollars, or about 5.6 trillion baht (31 baht per US dollar), equivalent to 5.6% of Thailand’s future GDP. This represents a 22-fold increase from the 2019 baseline. The economic losses are estimated from direct medical expenses and indirect costs from reduced work efficiency, absenteeism, underperformance, and premature death, directly affecting the country’s growth potential.
Dr. Athirat added, “Bumrungrad Hospital prioritizes sustainable good health and recognizes issues faced by those with weight imbalances. The hospital provides diverse weight management care through a specialized medical team and multidisciplinary staff who design personalized treatment considering physical, psychological, and environmental factors. Medical innovations cover a wide range of treatment options—from medication to endoscopic gastric suturing and surgery—combined with lifestyle adjustments in diet and exercise to ensure safe, effective, and sustainable treatment.”
Khun Napas Paorohit, Chief Marketing Officer of Bumrungrad Hospital, said the purpose of today’s event is to raise awareness about obesity and correct Weight Management. Currently, there is an increasing problem with counterfeit weight loss pens, so the best weight control is to seek medical consultation.
Dr. Nopawan Kitivat, an endocrinology and metabolism specialist at Bumrungrad Hospital, pointed out that Weight Management means maintaining body weight at a level appropriate for an individual’s health, representing a holistic and sustainable health care process over the long term.
Successful and sustainable weight management requires permanent lifestyle changes in nutrition, exercise, stress management, and behavioral habits. In cases where behavior modification alone is insufficient—especially for patients with a BMI of 27.5 or higher (for ASEAN populations) or BMI 25 or higher with complications such as diabetes, hypertension, or abnormal blood lipids—medication in the GLP-1RA class (weight loss pens) is an option. This medication suppresses appetite, controls blood sugar, reduces heart disease risk, and motivates patients to adjust behaviors. However, medication must be used under close medical supervision for safety and maximum effectiveness and combined with behavior changes for successful, sustainable weight loss.
Associate Professor Dr. Tosapol Kerdsirichairat, FACG, FASGE, a gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy specialist at Bumrungrad Hospital, explained that obesity is a complex medical condition directly affecting the digestive system. It causes many “silent threats” often unrecognized, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), gallstones, and various cancers.
For patients whose behavior modification and medication do not achieve targets, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is an accepted treatment option. It suits patients with BMI 30–40 or BMI 35 and above with comorbidities unresponsive to other treatments. ESG is a minimally invasive procedure, allowing quick recovery without abdominal scars, and can reduce excess weight by 15–20% within 1–2 years. Bumrungrad Hospital offers ESG combined with GLP-1RA medication for obesity treatment, enabling some patients to lose up to 44% of their weight—one of the best results worldwide.
Additionally, bariatric surgery is an option for patients with very high BMI: laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for BMI over 30, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for BMI over 40. These surgeries limit food intake, reduce appetite, and promote weight loss. However, thorough evaluation by medical teams is essential to ensure patients’ physical and mental readiness and understanding of lifestyle changes post-treatment.
Dr. Morakot Suwankan, a nutrition specialist at Bumrungrad Hospital, added that successful weight control comes from permanent changes in eating behavior, beginning with awareness, environmental adjustment, realistic goal setting, and internal motivation. Many patients mistakenly think weight loss means only lowering the number on the scale, ignoring health risks such as muscle loss or high body fat despite normal BMI. Therefore, expert in-depth assessment is vital to identify the true causes and design suitable treatment plans.
The most effective eating plan is one personalized to individual needs, lifestyle, and health goals, considering biological and behavioral factors. The key is not eating less but "eating correctly and appropriately." Excessive food restriction can cause nutrient deficiencies, muscle loss, and easier weight regain (Yo-Yo Effect). Approaches like Intermittent Fasting (IF), Ketogenic Diet (KETO), or Meal Replacement products can be helpful tools for some patients if used properly and under expert supervision. Having a nutritionist involved in planning helps achieve goals and maintain good health sustainably.
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