2 days ago
Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre Pushes Medically Supervised Approach To Obesity
As Malaysia grapples with rising obesity rates, Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre (BTMC) is advocating a medically supervised, multidisciplinary approach to weight management, emphasising clinical screening, patient education and long-term support. Dr Nurul Nadiah Mohd Iqbal, Consultant Internal Medicine Physician, highlighted the importance of medically supervised weight management for safe and sustainable outcomes.
During a media session titled 'Beyond Diets and Fads: Medical Experts Decode Sustainable, Supervised Weight Loss for Obesity Management,' BTMC highlighted how coordinated obesity care can deliver safer, sustainable outcomes, particularly for patients with chronic conditions or mobility limitations.
Data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2024 showed that over half of Malaysian adults (52.1%) have abdominal obesity, a risk factor for non-communicable diseases including heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles remain widespread, with only 5.2% of adolescents meeting daily vegetable intake recommendations.
Medical supervision begins with comprehensive blood tests and physical assessments to detect underlying conditions such as hypertension, sleep apnoea, fatty liver disease, or hormonal imbalances. This allows personalised treatment plans to account for each patient's health profile, nutritional needs and physical capabilities. Ongoing monitoring also ensures medication effectiveness while reducing potential side effects and dropout rates. Dr Tamilvani Rajaretnam, Consultant Internal Medicine, emphasised the need for regular reassessments and close monitoring in medically supervised weight management.
Dietary guidance focuses on mindful adjustments to familiar meals rather than imposing strict diets. Patients are educated on portion control, meal planning and label reading, enabling healthier choices without eliminating cultural or emotional food preferences.
Physical activity is tailored to individual capabilities. Physiotherapists conduct personalised strength and mobility assessments using AI-assisted tools to improve joint function, posture and endurance while minimising strain. Sessions are adapted progressively, helping patients regain independence in daily activities.
BTMC also showcased how AI-enabled physiotherapy tools can assist clinicians in monitoring patient progress in real time, ensuring safety and effectiveness of exercises.
Patient Karthikeyen shared his weight management journey during the session, highlighting the impact of medically guided support.
One patient, 37-year-old Karthikeyen, shared that the structured medical support helped him maintain consistent weight management, unlike previous attempts on his own.
The centre emphasises that effective obesity care requires structure, scientific guidance and continuous support rather than relying on willpower alone. BTMC currently offers a three-month comprehensive programme incorporating medical consultations, dietitian support and physiotherapy sessions to guide patients toward sustainable health improvements.
