Obesity clinics see surge in patients amid greater awareness of condition

Résumé détaillé

Healthcare providers say factors such as genetics, hormones and metabolism can make weight loss difficult despite efforts to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Healthcare providers say factors such as genetics, hormones and metabolism can make weight loss difficult despite efforts to adopt healthier lifestyles.

SINGAPORE: More people are seeking professional help to manage obesity, with some healthcare providers reporting a surge in demand amid growing awareness that the condition involves more than just diet and exercise.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has seen a 50 per cent increase in referrals to its obesity clinic over the past two years, prompting it to expand its services and double the number of doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

Healthcare providers say the growing demand reflects greater recognition of obesity as a complex medical condition influenced by a range of factors.

Among those seeking professional help is Ms Nurul Aini Mohammad Ali, who has long faced a frustrating struggle to shed the kilos by herself.

Over the years, she tried various approaches including the Atkins diet and intermittent fasting, and physical activities such as brisk walking, stair climbing and weight training. But she saw little success.

“Like, I see (no change) or else I gain weight. There were cases when I actually gained even more weight (during my diets),” she told CNA.

Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal and metabolic condition often worsened by obesity. The condition can also make weight management more challenging.

She subsequently sought help at TTSH's obesity clinic, where healthcare professionals helped her understand how underlying medical conditions can affect her ability to lose weight.

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