Overweight
Being overweight means carrying more body fat than is healthy for your height. It sits on the spectrum between a healthy weight and obesity, and is defined by a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9. Across Southeast and East Asia, adjusted BMI thresholds are often lower, reflecting differences in how excess fat affects metabolic health at a given body size.
Medicine used to treat Overweight
Why weight accumulates
Energy imbalance is the core driver: the body stores excess calories as fat when intake consistently exceeds what is burned. Genetics, hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism, certain medicines, poor sleep, and high-stress urban lifestyles all tip that balance. Diets rich in ultra-processed foods and sedentary office work make overweight increasingly common across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Managing overweight
Sustained lifestyle change is the foundation. Reducing portion sizes, choosing whole foods over refined carbohydrates, and building regular movement into the day produce meaningful results over months rather than weeks.
When lifestyle adjustments alone are not enough, weight management medicines may help. Orlistat works in the gut to block roughly a third of dietary fat from being absorbed, supporting calorie reduction when combined with a lower-fat diet.
If your weight is affecting blood pressure, blood sugar, or joints, a doctor can assess whether further investigation or treatment is needed.