Obesity: Brunei ranks second in South-East Asia after Malaysia

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Brunei Darussalam has the second highest obese population in South-East Asia of 14.1 per cent with an average body mass index (BMI) of 27.0 kilogrammes per square metre (kg/m2) based on the World Population Review 2023.

However, the number of obese people in the country is not high compared to countries in Europe and North America. Malaysia topped the chart with 15.6 per cent.

The prevalence of obesity in the Sultanate is increasing due to factors such as changes in diet and lifestyle, as well as the rise of sedentary jobs. The government has implemented measures such as promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity.

The report said obesity is a growing global concern. Data suggests the number of obese people in the world has tripled since 1975 to approximately 2.1 billion – roughly 30 per cent of the total population – and this number continues to rise.

According to the World Obesity Atlas 2023 analysis by the World Obesity Federation, the proportion of obese adults in Brunei is expected to increase by an average of 4.2 per cent a year between 2020 and 2035, to an alarming 33 per cent.

Obesity among children is forecast to grow by 4.4 per cent per year over this period, to over 40 per cent. Overweight population and high obesity rate are likely to impact the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.2 per cent.

Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death, dramatically decreasing not just a person’s overall quality of life but also their life expectancy. Obesity puts people at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and even certain types of cancer.

Additional health risks from diabetes include osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, kidney disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Pregnant women who are obese may suffer from complications that can lead to health problems for the mother or the child.

The many health concerns associated with obesity can be used as a major overall health indicator of a population. The healthiest countries generally have lower obesity rates.