Novo
Nordisk’s
‘Beyond
the
Scale’
initiative
Breaking
the
Myths:
A
Public
Health
Reframe
“Just
eat
less.”
“Try
harder.”
“It’s
a
lifestyle
choice.”
These
are
more
than
just
phrases
—
they
reflect
a
deeper
misunderstanding
of
obesity.
Today,
a
bold
new
initiative,
seeks
to
challenge
those
misconceptions
and
open
the
door
to
a
more
compassionate,
evidence-based
conversation.
“Beyond
the
Scale”
launches
across
Singapore
with
a
clear
and
urgent
call
to
focus
on
obesity
as
not
a
failure
of
willpower,
but
as
a
complex,
chronic
disease.
The
initiative
invites
the
public
to
go
beyond
—
beyond
stigma,
beyond
myths,
beyond
labels
—
and
recognise
obesity
for
what
science
confirms
it
to
be:
a
multifactorial
health
condition
that
deserves
understanding,
early
intervention,
and
clinical
care.
Led by global healthcare company Novo Nordisk in collaboration with local healthcare professionals and patient advocates, “Beyond the Scale” is a disease awareness initiative aimed at driving a shift in how individuals, communities, and healthcare providers approach obesity management.
“We believe it’s time to shift from blame to understanding,” said General Manager, Mr Vincent Siow of Novo Nordisk Singapore. “Obesity affects 1 out of 9 people in Singapore4, yet it’s still too often seen as a matter of willpower. The reality is that obesity is a complex, chronic disease driven by biology, environment, and unequal access to care.1,5 It’s time we treat it with the seriousness it deserves — and we are proud to lead that conversation and drive meaningful change through the “Beyond the Scale” initiative.
Why
This
Matters
Now
The
2021–2022
National
Population
Health
Survey
reveals
the
highest
obesity
rate
(15%)
among
adults
aged
40
to
49,
while
43.3%
of
residents
aged
18
to
74
had
abdominal
obesity,
which
increases
with
age
and
peaks
between
50
to
74
years.6
This
is
compounded
by
the
fact
that
perceptions
persist
about
obesity
being
a
personal
failing,
discouraging
individuals
from
seeking
help,
delaying
diagnosis,
and
compounding
the
health
burden
on
families
and
the
healthcare
system.
Obesity significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD)7, all of which already place a growing strain on Singapore’s healthcare infrastructure. The economic impact is substantial: in 2019, metabolic-risk related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, CKD, and cardiovascular conditions, cost Singapore S$2.20 billion.8 Of this, S$642 million were healthcare expenditures8, and excess weight alone accounted for an estimated S$261 million in annual medical and absenteeism costs.9 Without decisive public health action, these obesity-related comorbidities are poised to escalate into a major societal and economic burden.
“This is not just a personal issue — it’s a public health priority,” said Dr Ben Ng, Arden Diabetes & Endocrine Clinic. “We know obesity changes how the body regulates appetite, energy storage, and metabolism. It’s a disease, not a choice. Science supports this — and our response should reflect it.”
The
Science
Behind
the
Message
Obesity
is
not
simply
about
calories
in
and
out.
Research
confirms
it
involves
neuroendocrine
(hormonal),
genetic,
and
psychosocial
factors,
making
it
both
preventable
and
treatable10
.
Studies show that in Singapore, weight stigma is often driven by the belief that obesity is a personal failing, lack of willpower, or lifestyle choice leading to delayed treatment, reduced care-seeking, and poorer health outcomes, particularly in managing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and kidney disease.11
Beyond
Labels,
Toward
Lasting
Change
“Beyond
the
Scale”
is
more
than
a
slogan
—
it
is
a
call
to
treat
obesity
as
the
complex,
chronic
disease
that
it
is.
To
move
away
from
blame,
appearance-based
judgments,
and
oversimplified
narratives,
toward
empathy,
science,
and
sustained
health.
It
is
an
urgent
appeal
to
rethink,
retrain,
and
rehumanise
the
way
we
support
individuals
living
with
obesity.
“The earlier we intervene, the better the outcomes,” said Dr. Ng. “Obesity is not a character flaw. It’s a disease. And it’s time we responded with the same respect, science, and care we give every other chronic condition.”
“Beyond
the
Scale”
aims
to:
- Raise awareness of obesity as a chronic, multifactorial disease.
- Reduce stigma and myths that hinder early care.
- Encourage timely, evidence-based conversations with healthcare professionals.
- Promote empathy and science within the medical community.
- Support patients with tools to take charge of their health.
Singaporeans can participate by:
- Visiting [www.truthaboutweight.sg] for factual resources, use a BMI measurement tool, and locate a nearest weight management healthcare professional.
- Starting honest conversations with GPs, nurses, and pharmacists.
- Sharing content to help dismantle myths and support loved ones on their health journeys.
1. Cuciureanu M, Caratașu CC, Gabrielian L, Frăsinariu OE, Checheriță LE, Trandafir LM, Stanciu GD, Szilagyi A, Pogonea I, Bordeianu G, Soroceanu RP, Andrițoiu CV, Anghel MM, Munteanu D, Cernescu IT, Tamba BI. 360-Degree Perspectives on Obesity. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Jun 9;59(6):1119. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061119. PMID: 37374323; PMCID: PMC10304508.
2. World Obesity. Retrieved from https://www.worldobesity.org/about/about-obesity/prevalence-of-obesity
3. World Obesity. Retrieved from https://data.worldobesity.org/country/singapore-192/
4. Lee, Y. V., & Tan, N. C. (2014). Obesity in Singapore: An update. The Singapore Family Physician, 40(2), 11–16. https://cfps.org.sg/publications/the-singapore-family-physician/article/71_pdf
5. World Health Organization. (2024). Obesity and overweight.WHO.https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight As accessed on 22nd May 2025.
6. Ministry of Health, Singapore. (2022). National Population Health Survey 2022 Report. https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/3/28c3b8f9-9216-46be-8fc9-b614098666a9/nphs-2022-survey-report_final.pdf
7. Cohen JB, Cohen DL. Cardiovascular and renal effects of weight reduction in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2015 May;17(5):34. doi: 10.1007/s11906-015-0544-2. PMID: 25833456; PMCID: PMC4427189.
8. Tan, V., Lim, J., Akksilp, K. et al. The societal cost of modifiable risk factors in Singapore. BMC Public Health 23, 1285 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16198-2 (2.2 Billion)
9. Junxing C, Huynh VA, Lamoureux E, Tham KW, Finkelstein EA. Economic burden of excess weight among older adults in Singapore: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 16;12(9):e064357. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064357. PMID: 36113947; PMCID: PMC9486358.
10. Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH; World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Obes Rev. 2017 Jul;18(7):715-723. doi: 10.1111/obr.12551. Epub 2017 May 10. PMID: 28489290.
11. Goff AJ, Lee Y, Tham KW. Weight bias and stigma in healthcare professionals: a narrative review with a Singapore lens. Singapore Med J. 2023 Mar;64(3):155-162. doi: 10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-229. PMID: 36876621; PMCID: PMC10071861.
Hashtag: #NovoNordisk
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