Rethinking Obesity: Novo Nordisk's Latest
Breaking the Myths: A Public Health Reframe
'Just eat less.' 'Try harder.' 'It's a lifestyle choice.' These are more than just phrases — they reflect a deeper misunderstanding of obesity. Today, a bold new initiative, seeks to challenge those misconceptions and open the door to a more compassionate, evidence-based conversation. 'Beyond the Scale' launches across Singapore with a clear and urgent call to focus on obesity as not a failure of willpower, but as a complex, chronic disease. The initiative invites the public to go beyond — beyond stigma, beyond myths, beyond labels — and recognise obesity for what science confirms it to be: a multifactorial health condition that deserves understanding, early intervention, and clinical care.
Led by global healthcare company Novo Nordisk in collaboration with local healthcare professionals and patient advocates, 'Beyond the Scale' is a disease awareness initiative aimed at driving a shift in how individuals, communities, and healthcare providers approach obesity management.
'We believe it's time to shift from blame to understanding,' said General Manager, Mr Vincent Siow of Novo Nordisk Singapore. 'Obesity affects 1 out of 9 people in Singapore4, yet it's still too often seen as a matter of willpower. The reality is that obesity is a complex, chronic disease driven by biology, environment, and unequal access to care.1,5 It's time we treat it with the seriousness it deserves — and we are proud to lead that conversation and drive meaningful change through the 'Beyond the Scale' initiative.
Why This Matters Now
The 2021–2022 National Population Health Survey reveals the highest obesity rate (15%) among adults aged 40 to 49, while 43.3% of residents aged 18 to 74 had abdominal obesity, which increases with age and peaks between 50 to 74 years.6 This is compounded by the fact that perceptions persist about obesity being a personal failing, discouraging individuals from seeking help, delaying diagnosis, and compounding the health burden on families and the healthcare system.
Obesity significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD)7, all of which already place a growing strain on Singapore's healthcare infrastructure. The economic impact is substantial: in 2019, metabolic-risk related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, CKD, and cardiovascular conditions, cost Singapore S$2.20 billion.8 Of this, S$642 million were healthcare expenditures8, and excess weight alone accounted for an estimated S$261 million in annual medical and absenteeism costs.9 Without decisive public health action, these obesity-related comorbidities are poised to escalate into a major societal and economic burden.
'This is not just a personal issue — it's a public health priority,' said Dr Ben Ng, Arden Diabetes & Endocrine Clinic. 'We know obesity changes how the body regulates appetite, energy storage, and metabolism. It's a disease, not a choice. Science supports this — and our response should reflect it.'
The Science Behind the Message
Obesity is not simply about calories in and out. Research confirms it involves neuroendocrine (hormonal), genetic, and psychosocial factors, making it both preventable and treatable10 .
Studies show that in Singapore, weight stigma is often driven by the belief that obesity is a personal failing, lack of willpower, or lifestyle choice leading to delayed treatment, reduced care-seeking, and poorer health outcomes, particularly in managing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and kidney disease.11
Beyond Labels, Toward Lasting Change
'Beyond the Scale' is more than a slogan — it is a call to treat obesity as the complex, chronic disease that it is. To move away from blame, appearance-based judgments, and oversimplified narratives, toward empathy, science, and sustained health. It is an urgent appeal to rethink, retrain, and rehumanise the way we support individuals living with obesity.
'The earlier we intervene, the better the outcomes,' said Dr. Ng. 'Obesity is not a character flaw. It's a disease. And it's time we responded with the same respect, science, and care we give every other chronic condition.'
'Beyond the Scale' aims to:
Raise awareness of obesity as a chronic, multifactorial disease.
Reduce stigma and myths that hinder early care.
Encourage timely, evidence-based conversations with healthcare professionals.
Promote empathy and science within the medical community.
Support patients with tools to take charge of their health.
Singaporeans can participate by:
Visiting [www.truthaboutweight.sg] for factual resources, use a BMI measurement tool, and locate a nearest weight management healthcare professional.
Starting honest conversations with GPs, nurses, and pharmacists.
Sharing content to help dismantle myths and support loved ones on their health journeys.
1. Cuciureanu M, Caratașu CC, Gabrielian L, Frăsinariu OE, Checheriță LE, Trandafir LM, Stanciu GD, Szilagyi A, Pogonea I, Bordeianu G, Soroceanu RP, Andrițoiu CV, Anghel MM, Munteanu D, Cernescu IT, Tamba BI. 360-Degree Perspectives on Obesity. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Jun 9;59(6):1119. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061119. PMID: 37374323; PMCID: PMC10304508.
2. World Obesity. Retrieved from https://www.worldobesity.org/about/about-obesity/prevalence-of-obesity
3. World Obesity. Retrieved from https://data.worldobesity.org/country/singapore-192/
4. Lee, Y. V., & Tan, N. C. (2014). Obesity in Singapore: An update. The Singapore Family Physician, 40(2), 11–16. https://cfps.org.sg/publications/the-singapore-family-physician/article/71_pdf
5. World Health Organization. (2024). Obesity and overweight.WHO.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight As accessed on 22nd May 2025.
6. Ministry of Health, Singapore. (2022). National Population Health Survey 2022 Report. https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/3/28c3b8f9-9216-46be-8fc9-b614098666a9/nphs-2022-survey-report_final.pdf
7. Cohen JB, Cohen DL. Cardiovascular and renal effects of weight reduction in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2015 May;17(5):34. doi: 10.1007/s11906-015-0544-2. PMID: 25833456; PMCID: PMC4427189.
8. Tan, V., Lim, J., Akksilp, K. et al. The societal cost of modifiable risk factors in Singapore. BMC Public Health 23, 1285 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16198-2 (2.2 Billion)
9. Junxing C, Huynh VA, Lamoureux E, Tham KW, Finkelstein EA. Economic burden of excess weight among older adults in Singapore: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 16;12(9):e064357. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064357. PMID: 36113947; PMCID: PMC9486358.
10. Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH; World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Obes Rev. 2017 Jul;18(7):715-723. doi: 10.1111/obr.12551. Epub 2017 May 10. PMID: 28489290.
11. Goff AJ, Lee Y, Tham KW. Weight bias and stigma in healthcare professionals: a narrative review with a Singapore lens. Singapore Med J. 2023 Mar;64(3):155-162. doi: 10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-229. PMID: 36876621; PMCID: PMC10071861.
Hashtag: #NovoNordisk
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Counterfeit and Refurbished Transducers Pose Serious Safety Risks
HONG KONG SAR & MACAU SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 June 2025 - Merz Aesthetics®, the world's largest dedicated medical aesthetics business for more than 115 years, leads the industry shift with Ultherapy PRIME®, the latest innovation in hyper-personalized, non-invasive skin lifting., which have earned the trust and support of medical aesthetics professionals and consumers in Hong Kong and Macau. Recently, the emergence of counterfeit and refurbished transducers in the local markets pose serious potential risks to treatment results and patients' safety. Merz Aesthetics® Hong Kong urges consumers to verify the authenticity of Ultherapy® products and seek treatments exclusively at authorized clinics. Merz Aesthetics® Hong Kong will launch the Ultherapy® Authenticity Verification Reward Program this August — making it easy for consumers to verify the Systems and transducers, reinforcing confidence and safety in every treatment. Trusted Technology, Proven Results — Beware of Counterfeit Transducers Ultherapy® and its latest innovation, Ultherapy PRIME® (collectively 'Systems'), are manufactured in the United States and remain the only US FDA cleared non-invasive micro-focused ultrasound skin lifting treatment with real-time visualization.. Ultherapy® DeepSEE® transducers are available in 4.5mm, 3.0mm, and 1.5mm depths to target different layers of the skin. The real-time imaging allows practitioners to visualize skin structure and tissue layers during treatment, ensuring that energy is precisely delivered to the intended depth of the skin for safe and effective results. Each Ultherapy® DeepSEE® transducer is designed to deliver a designated 2,400 dosage lines and cannot be recharged or refurbished once depleted. The recent emergence of counterfeit or refurbished transducers in the market has raised serious concerns over treatment results and patients' safety. Inaccurate energy delivery into the skin will compromise lifting results and create extremely high risks, potentially leading to burns. The use of counterfeit or refurbished transducers can also impair the Systems, potentially leading to unpredictable outcomes that may cause harm to patients. Authentic Transducers Are Traceable — Counterfeit Unknown Every Ulthera® DeepSEE® transducers carries a unique serial number and QR code, allowing it to be traced back to the purchasing clinic. Counterfeit or refurbished transducers often fail QR verification, raising questions about their origin and posing significant safety risks. In addition, every authentic transducer has a specified shelf-life which is12 months from the date of manufacture. Expired transducers should not be used, as they may result in unpredictable outcomes which can possibly harm or injure the patients because there is no clinical evidence to support the use of such expired transducers. Choose Only Authorized Ultherapy® Clinics Our official Ultherapy® website ( regularly updates the list of clinics and medical aesthetic centers that use authentic Systems and transducers. Each authorized provider receives official certificates for in-clinic display. Merz Aesthetics® urges consumers to choose authentic Ultherapy® treatments from officially authorized clinics and aesthetic centers to ensure that only certified Systems and transducers are used. Products obtained through unauthorized or parallel import channels may not comply with the manufacturer's prescribed storage and handling standards, potentially compromising safety and efficacy. 3-Step Verification Program Launches This August To help consumers easily identify authentic Systems and transducers, Merz Aesthetics® Hong Kong is launching the Ultherapy® Authenticity Verification Reward Program in August 2025. With just three simple steps, consumers can authenticate products and enjoy a special reward: 1. Scan the QR code on the System to verify authenticity. Counterfeit machines typically lack valid QR verification. 2. Take a photo of the QR code on the transducer and upload it to the official website for instant verification. 3. Successfully complete both verifications to receive a HK$100 Häagen-Dazs coupon as your reward (limited quantities, available in Hong Kong only). Report Suspected Counterfeit or Refurbished Devices Merz Aesthetics® Hong Kong will continue to take enforcement action against the sale or use of counterfeit version of the Ultherapy® and Ultherapy PRIME® systems, as well as unauthorized, refurbished, or counterfeit transducers. The company also warns against any unauthorized modifications or repairs of the Systems. Only authorized representatives and service centers, certified by the manufacturer, are properly trained and qualified to inspect, repair, or replace components of the Systems. Merz Aesthetics® Hong Kong believes that the patients' well-being and treatments safety are core values shared with its network of professional medical partners. We urge both providers and consumers to report any suspected use of counterfeit systems, counterfeit transducers, or refurbished transducers. Consumers are encouraged to consult the official Ultherapy® website ( for a list of authorized clinics before treatment. With the launch of the Ultherapy® Authenticity Verification Reward Program this August 2025, they can also complete a simple verification process to confirm that both the Systems and transducers are authentic ensuring every session is safe, effective, and provides piece of mind.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
Cheap and risky: Stung by high prices, Americans turn to DIY weight-loss drugs from the grey market
Grey market grows for cheap weight-loss drugs imported from China Some users try small doses of substances not yet approved by FDA Drugmakers call trend dangerous and illicit Online community says it's filling gaps in broken system SAN FRANCISCO, June 29 — In what she calls the 'wild west' of obesity medicines, Missouri-based Amy Spencer is a pioneer. Each week the mother of two injects herself with weight-loss drugs, two of which are in clinical trials and not yet approved for sale by the US Food and Drug Administration. One comes mixed with tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly's Zepbound. Spencer, 50, is not part of any drug trial but mixes the cocktails herself, using tiny doses that she believes are safe. The total cost is about US$50 (RM211) monthly, as little as one-tenth of what she would expect to pay their makers for full treatment. The drugs — glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight-loss medicines — are manufactured and shipped from China, according to the packaging. She orders them through online vendors. Spencer belongs to a fast-growing group of Americans turning to what many call the 'grey market' for obesity medicines, bringing cheap active ingredients from China often labelled as for research purposes, according to import data and social media postings. It's a trend that drugmakers Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy, say is dangerous as well as illicit. Reuters tracked online forums and interviewed seven people who said they bought obesity medicines through this market, including an attorney in Arizona who works for a state insurance agency, a retired nurse in Illinois and a Type 1 diabetic in Louisiana, who said the medicine helped cut her insulin intake by more than half. For more than a year there has been demand for cheap Chinese-made powders, exacerbated by limited health insurance coverage in the US Buyers told Reuters the grey market received a boost from an FDA ruling last year that US compounding pharmacies — outsourcing facilities that create drugs in shortage — must stop selling obesity medicines more cheaply than the companies that developed them. Shipments of such active ingredients from Chinese entities not registered with the FDA jumped by 44 per cent in January from the previous month, according to research by the Partnership for Safe Medicines, a public health group focused on the safety of prescription drugs. It said its findings are likely an undercount, because unregistered vendors may not disclose that their parcels contain medicines. Packages valued at less than US$800 that enter the US under the de minimis rule are not included in the data. Amy Spencer holds a number of vials containing components of obesity drugs, which were purchased through the grey market, a new market for obesity drugs that allows consumers to purchase medication materials from China and reconstitute them into injectable drugs, at her home in southern Missouri April 24, 2025. — Reuters pic Nearly three-quarters of US adults are overweight or obese, according to government estimates, but a survey by nonprofit health policy research organisation KFF found only about 8 per cent say they have taken medicine for weight loss. Most of the grey market buyers Reuters interviewed had told their medical providers they were taking GLP-1 medicines but not where or how they bought them. Insurance coverage for weight-loss drugs has recently increased, but typically only covers branded versions, according to consulting firm Mercer. Many Americans have paid out of pocket for cheaper compounded drugs. Interest in taking small doses of the drugs has also spurred the online marketplace, buyers said. Taking to platforms including Reddit and Telegram for guidance, buyers import small quantities, often described as research materials to sidestep regulatory scrutiny. They swap advice for navigating the market, exchanging information on vendors, shipping and dosage, and sometimes clubbing together to cover the cost of testing the powders. One forum is called StairwayToGray. It has more than 21,000 members on Telegram and recently was gaining nearly 1,000 members weekly. It did not respond to Reuters' inquiries, and blocked access to the forum after receiving them. It has a website where it says it does not facilitate group purchases. 'This community is filling the gaps and being our own regulators, ensuring testing and access for everyone who needs it. Because you shouldn't have to choose between your health or your wallet,' it says. Spencer stores her stocks in her fridge and makes them up in the kitchen — carefully measuring sterile water, rolling the vial between her fingers until the powder dissolves, and drawing the liquid into a syringe before injecting it into her thigh or belly. She has lost 24 pounds. 'This is working so well for me. It's so easy. It's cheap,' said Spencer, who assumes her health plan wouldn't cover the drugs. 'I don't know what I would do without this medicine.' Amy Spencer poses for a portrait in a beveled bathroom mirror while holding a syringe and a vial that contained the components of obesity drugs, which she purchased through the grey market, a new market that allows consumers to purchase obesity medication materials from China and reconstitute them into injectable drugs, at her home in southern Missouri April 24, 2025. — Reuters pic 'Very dangerous' In February, 38 US state and territory attorney generals wrote the FDA seeking action against illegally sold weight-loss medicines, including 'research purposes only' ingredients from China. 'Much like with counterfeit versions, these active ingredients come from unregulated, undisclosed sources... and pose risks of contamination and inclusion of foreign substances,' they said. Shabbir Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, said unapproved drugs can have problems with sterility, purity and consistency. 'It can be very dangerous. You're playing the role of your own doctor, pharmacist, and FDA inspector,' he said. Of those interviewed, only Spencer reported any problems: She once got her math wrong and overdosed, resulting in several days of severe flu-like symptoms. Lilly said it had taken many steps to address patient safety risks posed by the proliferation of unsafe or untested tirzepatide. The company said it is filing lawsuits, educating consumers and working with social media companies to identify and remove posts that promote unsafe products, including those described as 'research use only.' 'We will continue to take action to stop those who threaten patient safety and urgently call on regulators and law enforcement to do the same,' a Lilly spokesperson told Reuters. Novo Nordisk also said it continues to take action against entities that violate laws and regulations and put patient safety at risk. America's Poison Control agency, which maintains the nation's poison data surveillance system and monitors GLP-1 exposures, said it could not reliably track cases involving unregulated 'research chemical powders' because they are sold under various names and formulations. The FDA's goal is to stop illegal sales of pharmaceutical medicines at the border, said George Karavetsos, former director of the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations and co-author of the imports study. But understanding the true nature and intended use of small parcels arriving from China can be difficult, and the FDA rarely seeks charges against consumers for personal use, he said. The FDA said it urges consumers to buy from licensed pharmacies and 'avoid products of unknown quality,' adding it was actively protecting consumers by intercepting illegal products at ports, and warning companies that market unapproved weight-loss medicines, including those mislabelled as 'for research purposes.' Although the forums show suppliers purportedly in China, Reuters was not able to verify where the drugs originate. None of the vendors responded to requests for comment. A Reddit spokesperson said the site prohibits facilitating transactions involving drugs and it had shut down a group found to be doing this. Telegram said it removes 'more than a million' instances of harmful content each day, but did not comment directly. Amy Spencer injects herself with obesity medication, which she purchased through the grey market, a new market for obesity drugs that allows consumers to purchase medication materials from China and reconstitute them into injectable drugs, at her home in southern Missouri April 24, 2025. — Reuters pic Microdose mistake Spencer has polycystic ovary syndrome and for years struggled with weight gain and hypertension. She decided to try obesity medicines after seeing claims on social media that microdosing them could give fewer side effects, and bought semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, from a compounding pharmacy for about US$200 per month. She started on one-fifth of the lowest dose. Within days, intermittent joint pain she often suffered had dissipated: 'I didn't realise how badly I hurt until the pain was gone.' The cost would reach about US$500 a month if she bought the drug from Novo, which recently introduced one-off discounts. After a week, Spencer said, her blood pressure dropped so low she thought she might pass out, so she stopped taking hypertension medicine. Her pressure stabilised and she lost three pounds. She wanted to understand more about microdosing, and turned to the grey market last summer. On Reddit, users told how another Novo drug in development, called CagriSema, had helped reduce inflammation and hunger pangs better than semaglutide. CagriSema is Novo's next-generation obesity drug candidate, still in clinical trials so not available to the public. It combines semaglutide with another molecule, called cagrilintide, which intensifies the hormone-mimicking effects to regulate blood sugar and reduce hunger. Spencer was intrigued. She found a US reseller saying they tested Chinese-made CagriSema through a third-party lab before selling it to Americans. On microdoses of CagriSema, Spencer could enjoy food in small quantities. 'I could say 'yes' because I knew I was only going to eat four bites.' In October, Spencer saw on Reddit that tirzepatide might also reduce inflammation. She placed a new order for vials that contained cagrilintide and tirzepatide combined, dubbed 'cagri-tirz.' Now each Monday, Spencer injects herself with tiny amounts of cagri-tirz. On Thursdays, she uses retatrutide, a new obesity medicine by Lilly, also in trials. As she was switching to cagri-tirz, Spencer made a dangerous mistake. She calculated her new dosage without realising the concentration of cagrilintide in the combined vials was 10 times higher than she had taken previously. 'I was an idiot. I didn't do my math. Or rather, I did the math for the tirzepatide but not for the cagri,' she said. Almost immediately, she began vomiting. The reaction was so severe she had trouble moving. She forced herself to drink water but couldn't eat. After four days, when symptoms lifted, she had lost seven pounds. Despite the blunder, Spencer didn't consider returning to compounded versions of the drugs or abandoning them altogether. She is not regularly monitored by a healthcare provider, but says her treatment has led to a 'life-changing' reduction in weight, joint pain and blood pressure. Marie, who asked to be identified by her middle name, filters reconstituted obesity medication, which was purchased through the grey market, a new market that allows consumers to purchase obesity medication materials from China and reconstitute them into injectable drugs, in the US Midwest April 28, 2025. — Reuters pic 'Honour system' Grey-market buyer Marie, 41, shows how do-it-yourself drugmakers are organising. She describes herself as a 'football mom' from the Midwest and asked to be identified by her middle name to protect her privacy. Last year she bought a compounding pharmacy's version of tirzepatide, paying about US$470 monthly, and had lost more than 20 pounds when the FDA announced the ban on compounded weight-loss drugs. She began to worry about her supply. Browsing on Reddit, she discovered links to Telegram and a trove of detailed instructions from experienced users for buying weight-loss drug ingredients from China. Customers said they often paid with Bitcoin or through mobile payment service Venmo. After a month closely following the forums, Marie made a purchase in January. The package that arrived contained 20 small glass vials of white powder with red caps. There were no instructions. The vendor who advertised the package on Telegram said it came from China. Marie returned to the forums and joined a group of 52 other customers who paid a total of US$1,020 to a Tennessee-based company called Peptide Test. Six members mailed in a vial each and the others chipped in their share of the fee. The lab found the samples were pure. Peptide Test declined to comment. 'It's an honour system,' said Marie. 'These groups are very supportive in a way I haven't seen on the internet before.' Marie, who asked to be identified by her middle name, stores obesity medication, which was purchased through the grey market, a new market that allows consumers to purchase obesity medication materials from China and reconstitute them into injectable drugs, in a deep freezer, in the US Midwest April 28, 2025. — Reuters pic Before her first injection, Marie gave her husband details of what she had done. They agreed that if needed, he would disclose everything to the emergency medics. But she was fine. In March, Marie volunteered to organise testing a new order of tirzepatide. The group formed on Telegram after users received vials from the same vendor which they judged to be from the same batch based on the colour of the caps. In all, 38 buyers agreed to chip in for the US$1,300 bill, and decided by poll that five vials would be enough. Five people sent drugs to the lab, Janoshik Analytical in the Czech Republic, which found the vials contained tirzepatide, as purported, with purity between 99.78 per cent and 99.85 per cent. Janoshik's CEO, Peter Magic, is a former amateur weight-lifter. He said his company started out more than a decade ago testing performance-enhancing drugs for online buyers. Last year, it tested 3,050 samples of obesity drugs, up from just over 650 samples in 2023. 'We're testing hundreds of these every week,' said Magic, whose company helps customers navigate customs requirements for shipping chemicals. — Reuters
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Rethinking Obesity: Novo Nordisk's Latest
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Imagine a chronic disease affecting more than 600,000 people 1-3 in Singapore — yet often misunderstood, overlooked, or surrounded by stigma. This is the reality of obesity today. For many, outdated perceptions and delays in care have created barriers to support and treatment. Today, a new initiative is calling for a shift — to change how we think, talk about, and respond to obesity, through a lens of science, empathy, and early intervention. Breaking the Myths: A Public Health Reframe 'Just eat less.' 'Try harder.' 'It's a lifestyle choice.' These are more than just phrases — they reflect a deeper misunderstanding of obesity. Today, a bold new initiative, seeks to challenge those misconceptions and open the door to a more compassionate, evidence-based conversation. 'Beyond the Scale' launches across Singapore with a clear and urgent call to focus on obesity as not a failure of willpower, but as a complex, chronic disease. The initiative invites the public to go beyond — beyond stigma, beyond myths, beyond labels — and recognise obesity for what science confirms it to be: a multifactorial health condition that deserves understanding, early intervention, and clinical care. Led by global healthcare company Novo Nordisk in collaboration with local healthcare professionals and patient advocates, 'Beyond the Scale' is a disease awareness initiative aimed at driving a shift in how individuals, communities, and healthcare providers approach obesity management. 'We believe it's time to shift from blame to understanding,' said General Manager, Mr Vincent Siow of Novo Nordisk Singapore. 'Obesity affects 1 out of 9 people in Singapore4, yet it's still too often seen as a matter of willpower. The reality is that obesity is a complex, chronic disease driven by biology, environment, and unequal access to care.1,5 It's time we treat it with the seriousness it deserves — and we are proud to lead that conversation and drive meaningful change through the 'Beyond the Scale' initiative. Why This Matters Now The 2021–2022 National Population Health Survey reveals the highest obesity rate (15%) among adults aged 40 to 49, while 43.3% of residents aged 18 to 74 had abdominal obesity, which increases with age and peaks between 50 to 74 years.6 This is compounded by the fact that perceptions persist about obesity being a personal failing, discouraging individuals from seeking help, delaying diagnosis, and compounding the health burden on families and the healthcare system. Obesity significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD)7, all of which already place a growing strain on Singapore's healthcare infrastructure. The economic impact is substantial: in 2019, metabolic-risk related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, CKD, and cardiovascular conditions, cost Singapore S$2.20 billion.8 Of this, S$642 million were healthcare expenditures8, and excess weight alone accounted for an estimated S$261 million in annual medical and absenteeism costs.9 Without decisive public health action, these obesity-related comorbidities are poised to escalate into a major societal and economic burden. 'This is not just a personal issue — it's a public health priority,' said Dr Ben Ng, Arden Diabetes & Endocrine Clinic. 'We know obesity changes how the body regulates appetite, energy storage, and metabolism. It's a disease, not a choice. Science supports this — and our response should reflect it.' The Science Behind the Message Obesity is not simply about calories in and out. Research confirms it involves neuroendocrine (hormonal), genetic, and psychosocial factors, making it both preventable and treatable10 . Studies show that in Singapore, weight stigma is often driven by the belief that obesity is a personal failing, lack of willpower, or lifestyle choice leading to delayed treatment, reduced care-seeking, and poorer health outcomes, particularly in managing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and kidney disease.11 Beyond Labels, Toward Lasting Change 'Beyond the Scale' is more than a slogan — it is a call to treat obesity as the complex, chronic disease that it is. To move away from blame, appearance-based judgments, and oversimplified narratives, toward empathy, science, and sustained health. It is an urgent appeal to rethink, retrain, and rehumanise the way we support individuals living with obesity. 'The earlier we intervene, the better the outcomes,' said Dr. Ng. 'Obesity is not a character flaw. It's a disease. And it's time we responded with the same respect, science, and care we give every other chronic condition.' 'Beyond the Scale' aims to: Raise awareness of obesity as a chronic, multifactorial disease. Reduce stigma and myths that hinder early care. Encourage timely, evidence-based conversations with healthcare professionals. Promote empathy and science within the medical community. Support patients with tools to take charge of their health. Singaporeans can participate by: Visiting [ for factual resources, use a BMI measurement tool, and locate a nearest weight management healthcare professional. Starting honest conversations with GPs, nurses, and pharmacists. Sharing content to help dismantle myths and support loved ones on their health journeys. 1. Cuciureanu M, Caratașu CC, Gabrielian L, Frăsinariu OE, Checheriță LE, Trandafir LM, Stanciu GD, Szilagyi A, Pogonea I, Bordeianu G, Soroceanu RP, Andrițoiu CV, Anghel MM, Munteanu D, Cernescu IT, Tamba BI. 360-Degree Perspectives on Obesity. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Jun 9;59(6):1119. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061119. PMID: 37374323; PMCID: PMC10304508. 2. World Obesity. Retrieved from 3. World Obesity. Retrieved from 4. Lee, Y. V., & Tan, N. C. (2014). Obesity in Singapore: An update. The Singapore Family Physician, 40(2), 11–16. 5. World Health Organization. (2024). Obesity and As accessed on 22nd May 2025. 6. Ministry of Health, Singapore. (2022). National Population Health Survey 2022 Report. 7. Cohen JB, Cohen DL. Cardiovascular and renal effects of weight reduction in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2015 May;17(5):34. doi: 10.1007/s11906-015-0544-2. PMID: 25833456; PMCID: PMC4427189. 8. Tan, V., Lim, J., Akksilp, K. et al. The societal cost of modifiable risk factors in Singapore. BMC Public Health 23, 1285 (2023). (2.2 Billion) 9. Junxing C, Huynh VA, Lamoureux E, Tham KW, Finkelstein EA. Economic burden of excess weight among older adults in Singapore: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 16;12(9):e064357. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064357. PMID: 36113947; PMCID: PMC9486358. 10. Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH; World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Obes Rev. 2017 Jul;18(7):715-723. doi: 10.1111/obr.12551. Epub 2017 May 10. PMID: 28489290. 11. Goff AJ, Lee Y, Tham KW. Weight bias and stigma in healthcare professionals: a narrative review with a Singapore lens. Singapore Med J. 2023 Mar;64(3):155-162. doi: 10.4103/ PMID: 36876621; PMCID: PMC10071861. Hashtag: #NovoNordisk
