Vietnam's obesity rate rising fastest in Southeast Asia: reports

The event, organized by the city-based Novo Nordisk Vietnam Ltd, highlighted findings from a study conducted by the U.S.–based Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) and reported by Nhan Dan (People) newspaper.

Experts at the conference emphasized the reality of obesity in Vietnam and discussed measures to combat the condition.

Vietnam is seeing the steepest rise in overweight and obesity rates in Southeast Asia, with an annual 38-percent increase in recent years compared to 10-20 percent among other Southeast Asian countries.

Data from the National Institute of Nutrition show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged five to 19 doubled to 19 percent in 2020 from 8.5 percent in 2010, even reaching 26.8 percent in urban areas.

Of particular concern is that the obesity rate among adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City has recently surpassed 50 percent, while in Hanoi it has exceeded 41 percent.

A survey of 1,000 obese individuals and 200 healthcare professionals in Vietnam revealed a wide range of barriers—ranging from lack of awareness and poor communication to psychosocial issues—that significantly hinder effective treatment.

Other common obstacles include lack of physical activity—reported by 63 percent of the obese people and 86 percent of the healthcare professionals—and lack of motivation, which affects 60 percent of the people with obesity and 80 percent of the healthcare professionals.

Additionally, 52 percent of experts believe that patients do not pay sufficient attention to their own condition.

Furthermore, an important but underrecognized issue is the social stigma faced by people with obesity.

Thirty percent of the obese individuals and 59 percent of the healthcare professionals said stigma hinders relationship-building, while 16 percent of those with obesity and 41 percent of the professionals believe it limits career advancement.

"Although obesity is recognized as a chronic disease, this understanding has not yet been fully reflected in research or clinical practice in Vietnam," commented Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the gastrointestinal surgery department at Military Central Hospital 108.

This mismatch has created a clear communication gap between doctors and patients.

"Nearly 50 percent of the patients surveyed feel ashamed when asked about their weight, while about 40 percent of doctors hesitate to discuss the topic, fearing that their patients might refuse to cooperate or be emotionally hurt," Dr. Tuan explained, citing the study.

He emphasized that this psychological barrier—though seemingly minor—is directly impacting treatment effectiveness.

More than just an issue of excess weight, obesity opens the door to many serious illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, sexual dysfunction, damage to internal organs, obstetric complications, and sleep disorders, the study warns.

According to the World Health Organization, obesity ranks among the leading causes of death worldwide. Despite this, the disease still lacks a comprehensive management approach in Vietnam.

Dr. Georgia Rigas, a leading obesity expert from Australia, emphasized that "managing obesity does not equate to losing weight," according to Nhan Dan.

She explained that genetic factors account for 40-70 percent of obesity risk, and therefore treatment should focus not just on weight loss but on improving quality of life, reducing complications, and restoring physical function.

"Effective treatment must adopt an integrated, multidisciplinary approach—from nutrition and physical activity to mental health and interventional medicine," she cautioned.

As a partner behind the ACTION study, Novo Nordisk Vietnam Ltd — a subsidiary of Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company based in Denmark — is collaborating with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and other agencies to roll out professional training, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to reduce stigma against people with obesity.