APL has just launched “Berani Bicara Berat,” a health education campaign aimed at advancing public understanding of obesity as a complex chronic disease and encouraging individuals to seek appropriate medical care. This is also marked by the introduction of https://www.obesityisadisease-id.com/ as a comprehensive source of education on obesity.
This effort is particularly urgent as obesity now affects nearly 1 in 4 adults in Indonesia (based on Survey Kesehatan Indonesia 2023). Despite being a complex disease influenced by biological, genetic, health behaviors, and environmental factors, it is still widely misperceived as a mere poor lifestyle choice. This misconception reinforces social stigma and deters individuals from seeking the clinical support they need.
To challenge these misperceptions, the campaign launch featured an insightful panel discussion themed “Berani Bicara Berat, Awali dengan Langkah yang Tepat,” bringing together key experts in sustainable weight management. During the discussion, Prof. Dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Sp.PD-KEMD, Ph.D., Chairman of Himpunan Studi Obesitas Indonesia (HISOBI), highlighted that behavior transformation and comprehensive education are key to ensuring individuals receive proper clinical care.
This was supported by Prof. Dr. dr. Em Yunir, Sp.PD-KEMD, President of Perkumpulan Endokrinologi Indonesia (PERKENI) and dr. Erwin Christianto, M.Gizi, Sp.Gk, Chairman of Perhimpunan Dokter Spesialis Gizi Klinik Indonesia (PDGKI), who explained that natural biological mechanisms make sustained weight loss challenging through lifestyle changes alone, underscoring the crucial need for personalized clinical nutrition assessments and medical therapies.
Ay Lie Widjaja, Chief Operating Officer of APL, reaffirmed our mission to make healthcare more accessible. By reshaping conversations surrounding weight, APL aims to break the stigma, empower individuals with science-based education, and encourage them to take the next step toward proper support by consulting with healthcare professionals.
