Certain Asian populations have a higher percentage of body fat compared to Caucasians of the same age, gender and BMI. Photo: Getty Images Certain Asian populations have a higher percentage of body fat compared to Caucasians of the same age, gender and BMI. Photo: Getty Images
Certain Asian populations have a higher percentage of body fat compared to Caucasians of the same age, gender and BMI. Photo: Getty Images
Lilian Kow
Opinion

Opinion

Lilian Kow

To better fight Covid-19, Asia can no longer afford to ignore obesity

  • From China to Malaysia, the region’s obesity rate continues to climb due to rising incomes and urbanisation
  • Experts urge governments to make weight loss surgeries and aftercare more affordable as obese people are more likely to become severely ill with the virus

Lilian Kow
Lilian Kow

Updated: 10:04am, 2 Sep, 2020

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Certain Asian populations have a higher percentage of body fat compared to Caucasians of the same age, gender and BMI. Photo: Getty Images Certain Asian populations have a higher percentage of body fat compared to Caucasians of the same age, gender and BMI. Photo: Getty Images
Certain Asian populations have a higher percentage of body fat compared to Caucasians of the same age, gender and BMI. Photo: Getty Images
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Lilian Kow

Lilian Kow

Associate Professor Lilian Kow is the President of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) and a senior consultant bariatric surgeon at Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, Australia. She is part of Ethicon’s professional network of regional medical experts and has been involved in training surgeons in bariatric surgery nationally and internationally.