Medically Reviewed By: Dr Jana Lim | MBChB, MMed (FM) | Board-Accredited Family Physician
MBChB, MMed (FM) | Board-Accredited Family Physician
Losing weight is about more than the number on the scale. It also means improving your overall health and quality of life. At Singapore Women's Clinic, we support your weight loss with medical guidance and practical tools suited to you.
Rather than relying on medication alone, we focus on sustainable habits, including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and care tailored to your needs.
By addressing both your lifestyle and any underlying health concerns, we aim to lower your risk of chronic disease, restore your energy, and support lasting well-being built around your goals.
Obesity in Singapore
Obesity is a growing concern in Singapore, where almost 4 in 10 adults are now above the healthy weight range. Much of this rise comes down to everyday habits, including longer hours of screen time, less physical activity, and diets built around calorie-dense foods.
The health risks are well known, but obesity also drives up medical costs and the need for long-term care. Tackling weight early can ease that financial burden and protect your health for years to come.
"Weight management is not just about numbers. It's about understanding your lifestyle, health history, and goals, and creating a plan that fits realistically into your daily life." "Weight management is not just about numbers. It's about understanding your lifestyle, health history, and goals, and creating a plan that fits realistically into your daily life."
Dr Jana Lim | MBChB, MMed (FM), Family Physician
Dr Jana Lim
MBChB, MMed (FM), Family
Physician
What Are the Effects of Obesity on Health?
Obesity impacts both physical and emotional well-being. Beyond appearance, it also increases the risk of developing several medical conditions:
- Metabolic health – Strongly linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Heart and circulation – Raises the risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease, which are leading causes of morbidity and mortality
- Joints and mobility – Extra weight puts strain on the knees, hips, and spine, often leading to osteoarthritis and persistent pain, especially with age
- Sleep and breathing – Frequently associated with obstructive sleep apnoea and interrupted breathing at night
- Psycho-emotional health – May lead to low self-confidence, social difficulties, anxiety, and depression, impacting quality of life and relationships
- Cancer risk – Increases the risk of several cancers, such as breast, colon, and liver cancer, usually developing over the longer term
What Causes Weight Gain and Obesity?
Gaining excess weight is usually the result of several contributing factors working together rather
than one single cause.
Fundamentally, obesity occurs when the body takes in more calories than
it can burn for energy, leading to the storage of the extra calories as fat. Common causes include:
- Dietary habits – Frequent intake of high-calorie or processed foods and sugary drinks
- Physical inactivity – Sedentary lifestyles, work that involves prolonged sitting, and extended screen use reduce the number of calories the body burns each day
- Age-related changes – Metabolism slows with age, while muscle mass declines, making weight gain more likely
- Genetic predisposition – Inherited traits such as slower metabolism or differences in appetite control can increase susceptibility
- Hormonal changes – Conditions such as hypothyroidism or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can alter metabolism and weight regulation
- Medical conditions and medications – Certain illnesses and drugs, such as corticosteroids and antidepressants, may promote weight gain as a side effect
