By: Karel Thurman
Portfolio Director
BENEO
Across Asia, waistlines are expanding at a pace few would have predicted a generation ago. While obesity has been a growing global concern for decades, rates are now increasing rapidly across the Asia-Pacific region. Already today, more than 1 billion people are living with obesity1 and predictions show that by 2030, nearly 3 billion adults — about half of the adult population — will be overweight or obese2.
Asia is central to this shift. In China alone, more than 50% of adults are projected to be overweight or obese by 20303; and across Southeast Asia, rates have more than doubled in many countries over the past three decades4.
Childhood obesity is also climbing across the region, which is of particular concern given that excess weight in early life frequently persists into adulthood. UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank report continued increases in overweight prevalence among children in East and Southeast Asia5.
Being overweight or having obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases, including type-2 diabetes and heart disease. This is putting global health systems under increasing pressure. Therefore, prioritising prevention from the earliest years, and throughout all stages of life, has never been more important.
Highlighting the scale of the problem is the focus for this year’s World Obesity Day theme, taking place on 4th March, which centres on “8 billion reasons to act on obesity”. While this is far beyond the remit of any one industry to solve on their own, the food industry has a pivotal role to play. Ingredients suppliers such as BENEO, along with manufacturers, have a shared responsibility to help consumers manage their weight sustainably by creating new food and drink concepts that make behavioural changes easier for consumers.
Although GLP-1 therapies might be here to stay, many consumers continue to pursue weight management through natural approaches that may lead to more gradual weight loss but are considered more balanced. Either way, the need for high quality diets remains essential, and functional ingredients have a crucial role to play. Today, losing or maintaining weight is just one piece of the puzzle within a broader approach to living healthily, including fostering a healthy gut, contributing to metabolic and mental health or supporting good sleep. That’s where smart nutrition comes in and BENEO is well positioned with a broad toolbox of science-backed solutions that can support these sophisticated needs.
Providing additional benefits for each stage of the weight loss journey will be key to addressing the global issue of obesity. There is huge potential for manufacturers to reformulate or develop new concepts that support consumers in this regard by creating nutrient-dense foods that deliver improved nutritional profiles. Whether that’s products enriched with prebiotic fibre, plant-based proteins or low-glycaemic carbohydrates, there’s now a variety of ingredients within the weight management toolbox.
One thing is clear: consumer education is paramount in tackling the issue of obesity and highlighting the important role of healthy diets. This is particularly important to avoid the misunderstanding that weight loss drugs are an easy solution — especially given weight regain after discontinuation is a major risk if eating habits are not adapted.
The scale of Asia’s obesity challenge demands more than short-term fixes or reactive measures. It calls for collaboration across the value chain — from policymakers and healthcare professionals to manufacturers and ingredient suppliers — to ensure that healthier choices are not only available, but accessible, affordable and appealing.
With obesity rates across Asia continuing to rise, now is the time for decisive, preventive action. As an industry, we are equipped with the scientific knowledge, technological expertise and ingredient solutions to contribute meaningfully. The responsibility is shared, and it is one we must not shy away from.
