Medical Innovation Needed to Complement Obesity Treatment, Prevent Complications

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has emphasised the need for medical drug innovation to complement independent dieting and bariatric surgery in treating obesity, a condition it now classifies as a deadly chronic disease rather than a mere aesthetic issue. Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono stated on Monday that obesity is a primary gateway to serious complications, particularly type 2 diabetes, and is consistently ranked among the top five health problems detected in the national free health screening programme. Domestic genetic studies indicate that almost all Indonesians carry a diabetes gene, with its activation heavily dependent on lifestyle. The risk of hereditary transmission is also increasing, with a child’s risk of developing diabetes rising from under 10 per cent if one parent is affected to 20-30 per cent if both parents have the condition. A health survey in Jakarta revealed a diabetes prevalence of 12.8 per cent, yet only 3 per cent of cases had been diagnosed, leaving 9.8 per cent unaware of their condition until tested. Dante noted that long-term success rates for independent dieting are only around 5 per cent, while bariatric surgery remains costly and is reserved for specific medical conditions. He stressed the importance of new medical innovations to fill the treatment gap between these two options, as controlling obesity can directly prevent complications such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Professor Em Yunir, an endocrinology specialist from the Indonesian Endocrinology Association (PERKENI), added that diabetes rarely occurs in isolation and is often accompanied by comorbidities like dyslipidaemia and hypertension, which can lead to organ damage including kidney failure. He highlighted the potential of new treatments such as tirzepatide, which mimics two natural hormones that regulate the brain’s hunger centre, helping patients feel fuller faster and longer, thereby naturally reducing calorie intake. Such therapies can simultaneously lower blood sugar, reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol profiles, and significantly aid weight loss. Despite these advances, both officials stressed that a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and dietary management remains the essential foundation for preventing and controlling obesity and diabetes.