{"id":23797,"date":"2026-07-11T10:15:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T03:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abdiwaluyo.com\/?p=23797"},"modified":"2026-07-11T10:15:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T03:15:17","slug":"obesity-is-more-than-excess-body-weight-why-it-needs-to-be-evaluated-early","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abdiwaluyo.com\/en\/health-info\/obesity-is-more-than-excess-body-weight-why-it-needs-to-be-evaluated-early\/","title":{"rendered":"Obesity Is More Than Excess Body Weight: Why It Needs to Be Evaluated Early"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: <\/em>dr.Vardian Mahardika, M.Biomed, SpPD, AIFO-K<\/em><\/p>\n

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Obesity is still often seen as simply a matter of appearance or poor self-discipline. However, this view is no longer consistent with current medical understanding. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recognizes obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease<\/strong>, meaning it can persist over time, recur, and is influenced by many factors, including genetics, neurobiology, hormones, eating behavior, and the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n

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In other words, obesity is not just about \u201ceating too much.\u201d Some people are genetically more prone to gaining weight. Others may have altered hunger and satiety signals, while some bodies are more likely to store energy as fat, especially when combined with low physical activity, poor sleep, chronic stress, and irregular eating patterns. This is why reducing obesity to a problem of willpower alone can delay proper evaluation and treatment.<\/p>\n

Globally, the number of people living with overweight and obesity continues to rise. This matters because obesity affects far more than the number on the scale. It increases the risk of many other medical conditions. For this reason, obesity is often described as the \u201cmother of all diseases\u201d<\/strong>– not as a formal medical term, but as a way to reflect how broadly it can affect health.<\/p>\n

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Looking Beyond BMI: When Is Someone Considered Obese?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most people are familiar with Body Mass Index (BMI)<\/strong>, which is calculated by dividing body weight by height squared. In the Asia-Pacific population, BMI cutoffs are more sensitive than the general global classification because metabolic risk tends to appear at lower BMI levels. The classification is:<\/p>\n

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However, BMI does not tell the whole story<\/strong>. A person may have a BMI that is not very high but already carry excessive body fat, especially visceral fat<\/strong>. On the other hand, someone with a higher BMI may have more muscle mass than fat mass. That is why modern obesity assessment goes beyond BMI alone.<\/p>\n

Why Is Visceral Fat Dangerous?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not all body fat behaves the same way. The most concerning type is visceral fat<\/strong>, which accumulates deep inside the abdomen and surrounds organs such as the liver, pancreas, heart, and kidneys. This type of fat is far more metabolically active and is more likely to trigger chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal disturbances.<\/p>\n

As a result, obesity may be linked to a wide range of complications, including:<\/p>\n