Recent figures show the alarming level of overweight and obesity in Vietnam. Statistics from the health sector show that non-communicable diseases currently account for 73.7% of the national disease burden; in which obesity is an important risk factor leading to high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many types of cancer.
What is more worrying is that the obesity trend is increasing rapidly in children. In just one decade, the rate of overweight and obese children in Vietnam has more than doubled. If in 2010 it was only about 8.5%, by 2020 it had reached 19% and in 2023 about 20% of children aged 5 to 19 were identified as obese. In large cities, this rate is even much higher. In some places, the rate of overweight and obese children has exceeded 40%, even over 50%.
These figures show a reality: Obesity is no longer an isolated phenomenon. It reflects changes in lifestyle, diet and social environment of a rapidly developing nation.
Along with urbanization and economic growth, Vietnamese people's eating habits have also changed significantly. Processed foods, fast food, and sugary soft drinks are increasingly appearing in daily meals.
In parallel, sedentary lifestyles are becoming increasingly popular. Children spend more time on phones, tablets and video games than physical activity. Adults are busy with office work, have little time to exercise or do sports. The combination of a high-energy diet and a static lifestyle has created a "fertile ground" for obesity to develop.
But what makes obesity a national problem is not just weight. What is worrying is the long-term consequences for the health system and the economy.
Obesity is a "door" leading to many dangerous chronic diseases. When a person has cardiovascular disease, diabetes or metabolic disorders, they often have to be treated for life. Medical costs not only increase for individuals and families, but also create great pressure on the insurance system and the national health budget. Meanwhile, if the disease appears in working age, work productivity will decrease, leading to significant economic losses for society.
In particular, obese children today are very likely to become adults with chronic diseases in the future. This means that the burden of disease can last for decades, affecting the quality of the country's human resources.
Therefore, obesity cannot only be seen as a "eating problem of each family". It requires the participation of the whole society.
Family is still the most important foundation. Parents need to form healthy eating habits for children from an early age, limit sugary drinks, fast food and encourage children to participate in sports activities. But family alone is not enough.
Schools need to play a greater role in building a healthy school nutrition environment. School meals must be strictly controlled in terms of nutrition; students need to be educated about a scientific lifestyle, understanding the value of exercise and balanced nutrition.
At the policy level, management agencies also need to take stronger action with preventive measures. Many countries have applied sugary drink tax, controlled unhealthy food advertising aimed at children, and promoted the building of a living environment that encourages exercise such as parks and public sports spaces.
Fighting obesity is not a story of weight or appearance. It is a story about public health, about labor productivity and about the future of an entire nation.
