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Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Wegovy, injectable drug used to treat obesity, now available via prescription in Singapore
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Wegovy is suitable for adults who are obese, or those who are overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity. SINGAPORE - An injectable drug used to treat obesity is now available via prescription from any licensed physician in hospitals and clinics across Singapore. In a statement on July 12, pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk said the launch of Wegovy locally is to support Singapore's efforts in improving population health. Wegovy is suitable for adults who are obese, or those who are overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. For effective results, users should also maintain a diet of reduced calories and an active lifestyle. The drug, which is self-administered weekly via a pre-filled injection pen, was approved for use by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) back in 2023 . It is a higher-dose version of diabetes medication Ozempic, which sparked global demand due to its ability to help users lose weight. Ozempic was approved for use in Singapore in April 2021. Both drugs contain semaglutide, an active ingredient which mimics the natural hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. Semaglutide regulates blood sugar levels and works in the brain to induce the sensation of fullness, making the user eat less and curb appetite. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement Singapore More NSFs may be recruited to tackle scams: Police Singapore $3 cashback for hawker centre meals and shopping at heartland stores with DBS PayLah initiative Singapore 40% more sign-ups to programmes for adult learners at institutes of higher learning in last 5 years Business NTT DC Reit's Singapore public offer 9.8 times oversubscribed Multimedia Which floor is this? Chongqing's maze-like environment powers its rise as a megacity Singapore Over 20 motorists caught offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay In Singapore, 11.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 74 were considered obese in 2022, according to the National Population Health Survey. Obesity is not simply the result of lifestyle choices, but a medically recognised chronic disease influenced by a mix of genetics, hormones, and environment, said Dr Abel Soh of Abel Soh Diabetes, Thyroid, and Endocrine Clinic. 'In my clinical practice, I see firsthand how many individuals blame themselves when in fact, their biology is often working against them,' said Dr Soh, who is also the chairperson of the Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Singapore. 'It's time we shift the conversation from blame to support in the management of individuals with obesity.' Many doctors worldwide have voiced concerns about the side-effects of semaglutide . Some adverse reactions reportedly include nausea, gastrointestinal effects, liver and bile disorders and inflammation of the pancreas. Users have also reported gaining back the weight they lost after dropping off either drug. Sellers on local e-commerce platforms had in early 2023 tried to cash in on the demand for Ozempic and Wegovy. It prompted the HSA to warn that the drugs contain potent ingredients that could lead to adverse effects if taken without medical supervision. A spokesman for HSA said then that the agency had conducted 'careful and thorough evaluation to ensure that therapeutic products meet the requirements for safety, efficacy and quality, and that the benefits outweigh the risks'. Both drugs can be supplied only by a doctor or obtained through a prescription from a pharmacist.
New Paper
06-07-2025
- Health
- New Paper
MOH considering proposals to integrate TCM into public healthcare
The use of acupuncture to treat migraines, for post-stroke rehabilitation and cancer-related care could soon be integrated into the national healthcare system under a sandbox initiative. They are part of 18 proposals for evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments that authorities are evaluating under a TCM sandbox initiative, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on July 6. The other TCM treatments that healthcare institutions under the three healthcare clusters here have proposed for the sandbox include the use of Chinese medicine for treating gastrointestinal disorders and chronic pain, alongside conventional treatments. If implemented in public clinics and hospitals, these treatments could become eligible for subsidies and MediSave coverage, which today apply to use of acupuncture for lower back and neck pain. Speaking at a forum on the use of evidence-based TCM in western medicine practice, Mr Ong said the latest move follows from his announcement in October 2024 that the Ministry of Health (MOH) was evaluating the efficacy of other TCM therapies beyond those two treatments. He emphasised that this was not about wholesale adoption of TCM treatments, but a thoughtful selection of therapies that have been shown to work, complementing western medicine to improve outcomes for patients, including those who do not respond well to conventional treatments alone. To start, these proposed treatments will be evaluated for scientific robustness by an MOH-commissioned committee, and then trialed "in a controlled environment" in public healthcare institutions for one to two years. "During the sandbox phase, our foremost priority is to ensure patient safety and maintain high standards of care," he said. "The evaluation will also enable us to assess the cost-effectiveness of these treatments." Mr Ong noted that TCM is already an integral part of Singapore's healthcare landscape, with one in five adults Singaporeans relying on TCM services each year, according to the 2022 National Population Health Survey. "Our vision is not simply adding more TCM services to hospital settings, but to create a really integrative care model where the strengths of both systems can be leveraged for optimal patient care," he added. At the forum, Mr Ong also announced that from 2026, a national-level award will recognise exemplary TCM practitioners. There will be two categories of awards - one for outstanding physicians and another for outstanding educators - and recipients will be awarded a cash amount of $5,000 each. Nominees for the awards must be Singaporeans or permanent residents currently practising here, with at least 15 years of experience. The forum - organised by SingHealth and the Academy for Chinese Medicine - was attended by about 420 people, most of whom were doctors and TCM physicians. Addressing attendees, National Neuroscience Institute senior neurological consultant Lim Shih Hui said the forum, which he co-chaired, will help foster a common language between these practitioners to bridge diagnoses in Western medicine and TCM. By integrating evidence-based traditional and modern medicine practices, the healthcare system can empower patients to make better informed decisions and benefit from the strengths of both medical systems, he added. Speaking to reporters, Prof Lim noted that SingHealth has been looking to improve treatment for conditions and diseases that Western medicine struggles to tackle, due to limitations or the lack of data. He said the public health cluster - the largest here - submitted more than half of the proposals to incorporate TCM for treatment of conditions including migraine, epilepsy and other disorders. "Migraine is a very common thing, but medication for migraines, though effective, have side effects," he said. "So if we can use TCM treatment to complement western treatment, the patient will have good effects as well as fewer side effects." SingHealth deputy group chief executive for medical and clinical services Fong Kok Yong, told forum participants that integration of TCM will be contingent on extensive clinical research. To this end, he suggested that all publicly-funded TCM research grants favour collaboration between the healthcare clusters. He said: "The larger the cohort being studied, the more robust is the clinical evidence, and I firmly believe that TCM trials that involve all three (public health) clusters and relevant TCM partners are best placed to provide such robust evidence." President of the Academy of Chinese Medicine Singapore Goh Kia Seng, who co-chaired the forum, told media in Mandarin that he welcomed the launch of the first national-level award for TCM practitioners, of which there are more than 3,200 here. "This is a sign that the Health Ministry and the country have begun to attach importance to being a TCM practitioner, sending an important message to those in the profession here," said Dr Goh. The latest announcements add to the Government's hope for TCM - which seeks to maintain balance between the body's systems and the outside environment - to play a bigger role in public health. In October 2024, Mr Ong said TCM practitioners may in future partner general practitioners under an expanded Healthier SG programme. Worldwide, the integration of TCM has already reaped benefits for western medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine's Prof Liu Jianping told attendees. The founder of the university's Centre for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine cited the therapeutic benefit of sweet wormwood, a herb in TCM that has been recognised for its ability to treat the life-threatening disease of malaria. In 2015, China received its first medicine Nobel Prize for a therapy developed from the herb, which has saved millions of lives across the globe.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Rethinking Obesity: Novo Nordisk's Latest
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Imagine a chronic disease affecting more than 600,000 people 1-3 in Singapore — yet often misunderstood, overlooked, or surrounded by stigma. This is the reality of obesity today. For many, outdated perceptions and delays in care have created barriers to support and treatment. Today, a new initiative is calling for a shift — to change how we think, talk about, and respond to obesity, through a lens of science, empathy, and early intervention. 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 [ 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 3. World Obesity. Retrieved from 4. Lee, Y. V., & Tan, N. C. (2014). Obesity in Singapore: An update. The Singapore Family Physician, 40(2), 11–16. 5. World Health Organization. (2024). Obesity and As accessed on 22nd May 2025. 6. Ministry of Health, Singapore. (2022). National Population Health Survey 2022 Report. 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). (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/ PMID: 36876621; PMCID: PMC10071861. Hashtag: #NovoNordisk
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
SAMH launches festival to raise mental health awareness among seniors
SINGAPORE – While some seniors blended tea and others came together in a drumming circle, Madam Kamala Devi Marimuthu was rolling dice in a game of mental wellness snakes and ladders. This adapted version of the childhood game encourages self-reflection by prompting players to answer questions related to everyday mental health challenges, and was among the 10 activities that seniors could partake in at an outreach festival organised by the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) on June 20. Madam Kamala found the game to be a dose of positivity. 'The volunteer who played the game with me was very friendly, he cracked a lot of jokes and made me really happy,' said the 80-year-old. The inaugural SAMH Golden Connect festival, being held at the non-profit's Space2Connect integrated wellness centre in Jalan Besar, is aimed at raising awareness of challenges faced by senior citizens, such as social isolation and mental health issues . Seniors aged 60 to 74 are the least likely age group to seek mental health support, whether from professionals or from their informal support networks, according to the 2023 National Population Health Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board. At the event, Central Singapore District Mayor Denise Phua underscored the importance of maintaining mental health as a person ages, given the close connection it has with physical well-being. She highlighted instances of elderly loneliness in Jalan Besar, and encouraged seniors both to look out for one another and to tap the support of organisations such as SAMH, especially for cases that do not require institutionalisation. 'As we get older, so do our neighbours. So please be more compassionate...(not) every time something happens, we must send them to the Institute of Mental Health,' she said. The festival also saw the debut of a mental health screening application powered by artificial intelligence that can detect symptoms of anxiety and depression for early intervention. The application, developed by Singapore-based company Opsis Emotion AI, involves a series of questions and video clips to be watched. As a person undergoes the 10-minute evaluation, the application assesses his emotional state through real-time analysis of facial expressions and body language, and produces a report for SAMH professionals to interpret. Ms Jane Goh, deputy director of creative services and youth at SAMH, said the tool complements the association's existing face-to-face screening processes. 'This is useful for clients who might not be able to articulate their emotions very well but might still want to convey certain things,' she said. The tool will be rolled out at SAMH's premises from June 20, and will eventually be extended to other age groups that SAMH supports, such as youth and adults. Among the 200 people that attended the festival on its opening day was Mr Hassan Arshad, 76. He felt that the activities were very meaningful, and looked forward to joining more of SAMH's programmes. Adjunct Associate Professor Lee Cheng, president of SAMH, said community outreach has been at the heart of the association's work since it was started in 1968, and remains a vital part of its efforts to support mental wellness across people's life stages. He noted that the two-day festival involved numerous community partners, including the Jalan Besar Active Ageing Centre, Kallang CC Community Drumming Circle, and student volunteers from Republic Polytechnic, the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and Raffles Girls' School. 'Through strong community partnerships, we can bridge gaps, build trust, and make support more accessible,' he added. 'We want every senior to know they are not alone, and that care and joy are within reach.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
29-05-2025
- Health
- Business Times
Singapore chef of Michelin-starred restaurant sheds over 30kg: How he and others sustain their weight loss
[SINGAPORE] Han Li Guang, chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Labyrinth, is used to eating good food. A lot of it. 'In the past, my wife would always scold me when we went overseas. I'd book two fine-dining meals a day. We'd barely finish one, and go for dinner already. And I always over-ordered – rich, fatty food,' he says. 'Nowadays, I book only one fine-dining meal once every two or three days while on holiday.' And for a top chef, his meals today are downright repetitive – revolving around rice, chicken breast, eggs and prawns. His commitment to his cause – triggered just before his 2022 wedding – led to his weight falling from a peak of 94 kg to a low of 62.5 kg earlier this year. Hitting the gym six days a week, he also brought his body fat down to just 9.5 per cent, but he is now on a bulking phase to gain more muscle mass. It may sound like too much of a challenge, but for Han and others like him, traditional weight-loss methods involving diet, exercise and sheer determination beat any quick fixes. Chef Han Li Guang when his weight loss was stagnating at around 80 kg (left), and after he started working out with a personal trainer. PHOTO: MATTHEW LU/ABDUL TSAQIF/INSTAGRAM/HAN_LG Feeling healthier, happier and mentally stronger are just some of the benefits these adherents gain. They also learn about nutrition and correct common misconceptions about food and exercise. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Injectables good, lifestyle changes better The Singapore 2021/2022 National Population Health Survey found that about one in nine residents (11.6 per cent of the population) aged 18 to 74 were obese, up from about one in 10 (10.5 per cent) in 2019/2020. Obesity was more common among males, and highest among adults aged 40 to 49. Injectables using glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists (GLP-1s) – Ozempic is an example – are drugs for treating Type 2 diabetes, but have been making headlines for successfully kickstarting weight loss by suppressing appetite. GLP-1s such as Saxenda and Wegovy have been approved for weight-loss treatment in Singapore. But patients have to meet certain criteria and can get these drugs only through prescriptions from licensed medical professionals. Boxes of Ozempic and Wegovy. PHOTO: REUTERS It is important to know that these are not lifestyle products or quick fixes for those seeking to slim down. The findings of a meta analysis of 11 studies of older and newer GLP-1 weight loss drugs by the University of Oxford, presented at the European Congress on Obesity this month, noted that users regained all the weight they lost within two years of cessation. Of course, there is still an important role for these medications. There is now a better understanding of how complex weight loss is and why certain individuals are more susceptible to being overweight, making weight-loss for them an uphill battle, says Dr Joel Foo, medical director at ATA Medical. This is why drugs like GLP-1s are game-changers for patients, especially in the control of blood sugar levels in diabetics. 'Weight loss at its crux is really about the treatment of metabolic syndrome, nothing more,' says Dr Foo. After some time, drug-induced weight loss typically plateaus. To make weight loss sustainable, behavioural changes involving exercise and eating habits are pivotal, especially when the patient is coming off GLP-1s. 'That's why the use of such medications really requires a lot of hand-holding,' adds the doctor, who says he used to be 'a fat kid' put through the now-defunct weight-loss Trim and Fit programme in school. What is unknown about the use of GLP-1s is how exactly they affect muscle loss and changes in body composition, says Dr Naras Lapsys, chief clinical officer and senior dietitian at Chi Longevity. He has a doctorate in molecular genetics and spent the first decade of his career studying obesity before becoming a consultant dietitian. 'Taking these medications alone without thinking about your resistance exercise, protein intake and the risks they may have on your body composition are probably some of the many issues that need to be addressed,' he says, noting that losing muscle mass is detrimental. Personal trainer Titus Toh points out that a calorie-deficit diet will cause weight loss, but an 80 kg male with 5 per cent body fat looks 'wildly different' from one with 25 per cent body fat. 'You lose fat by building muscle and there are many benefits to that, but the obvious one is that metabolism is increased, so the body can sustain itself better. People always look for the quickest or most convenient method, but whatever is built to last is often not achieved quickly.' Slow and steady – with accountability Han admits the first three months of his weight-loss journey were the hardest, especially when it came to eating: 'Fifty per cent of the battle is won in the gym, and the other 50 per cent, outside of it.' But once he got the hang of his diet – planned by Toh – and understood the science behind food, 'it was easy' building it into his lifestyle. And that includes handling dinner invitations and the 'many good meals' that come his way. No matter how late his day ends, Chef Han Li Guang exercises first thing the next morning. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/HAN_LG 'There's a lot of discipline on my end,' he says, noting that he still tastes his restaurant's food, does research and development, and often travels for work. So he stays accountable by tracking his caloric intake with the popular MyFitnessPal app, looks for hotels with gyms and brings protein shakes along. And no matter how late his day ends, he exercises first thing the next morning. 'I'm 40, I'm married. Why am I doing all this? To feel good about myself. I want to be fit mentally and physically, I want it natural and sustainable, so my lifestyle can incorporate what I'm doing as a chef and restaurant owner. Health should be a long-term decision.' Similarly, it was a slow and arduous journey for Bernard Soh, who was overweight for most of his life. Soh weighed 99 kg and had high blood pressure and sugar levels before the Covid pandemic struck. His doctor offered him Saxenda, but he declined, wary of possible side effects and other complications. Instead, the senior manager at Dolby Laboratories chose to exercise. 'During the pandemic, there's only so much Netflix you can watch, so I tried walking a bit just to get some fresh air.' The walking became running, and Soh was soon challenging himself. 'Once you start dropping a few kilos, it really motivates you to do even more.' He read up on nutrition, learning how to eat better and exercise right, tracking his progress as he went along. Like Han, his biggest challenge was food – or lack thereof. He was hungry every night and struggled to fall asleep. 'I was really messed up because my blood sugar level was very low ,and I'd wake up extremely moody.' So he drank tea to fill his 'very big' stomach and contain his hunger. 'These are psychological things, and I needed to accept the hunger and refrain from snacking. This took a long time, six to nine months for me. It was very, very hard.' But in time, his body adjusted to the lower caloric intake. He began to feel better. This is a huge contrast to the past, when he ate whatever he could conveniently get his hands on. 'It's like 'I'm going to settle a hunger problem now'. So, anything goes. I don't know how many dinners and suppers I used to have (every night).' Today, the 46-year-old tracks his diet and exercise six days a week, even though his regional role requires him to travel two to three weeks in every month. At his thinnest, he weighed 66.7 kg, but he is now 75 kg, bulking up for muscle growth. He enjoys running, something he could never imagine himself saying before. 'I used to take taxis everywhere. But now, I'd gladly walk 2 km home from my gym.' It helps that staying accountable and tracking calorie-consumption has become easier and more convenient. Financial-services consultant Desmond Fu worked out at least five days a week and shed some 20 kg from his 78 kg frame in 2009. Realising he could lose weight, the 49-year-old began focusing on building muscle, which he needed to do to reduce his level of body fat. That was when he turned to Welling AI, an app by a Singapore-based startup which works like a virtual nutrition coach powered by artificial intelligence. Financial-services consultant Desmond Fu at his heaviest. PHOTO: DESMOND FU The 49-year-old is now at a healthier weight. PHOTO: DESMOND FU Having used it since Chinese New Year, Fu, who says he puts on weight easily, discovered how 'very innocent-looking snacks' can be extremely calorie-dense. By actively adjusting his food choices to stay within his calorie count, the father-of-four now weighs 61.5 kg. Welling AI's co-founder, technopreneur Philip Man, says the app – launched in August 2024 – was trained on Asian food data. Users log meals via photos, voice or text and get calorie and macronutrient estimates. Personalised feedback, aligned with the user's goals, takes the form of 'positive reinforcement' and meal suggestions. Welling AI's app is trained on Asian food data. PHOTO: WELLING Users of Welling AI get personalised feedback in the form of 'positive reinforcement' and meal suggestions. PHOTO: WELLING The app now has a few thousand paid subscribers and is averaging 50 to 60 per cent month-on-month growth. 'Becoming mindful about what you're eating is a much better long-term habit that will get you into general health than a quick fix,' says Man. A cause greater than weight-loss It is often the struggle with sticking to a diet and exercise plan that leads many to give up. 'First of all, acknowledge that making changes is often difficult,' suggests Dr Lapsys. 'Weight loss is a long and slow process. So it's better to make one or two changes and bed them down as successful habits before taking on more. Frame the small changes you make not as sacrifices, but as alternatives that are compelling, or find upsides to the changes you've made. That's a very good starting point.' For Toh, it is most important to keep purpose in mind. 'Understand why you're doing what you're doing,' he emphasises. 'If you put the aesthetic part aside, it's more about leading a healthy lifestyle. Shouldn't it be a norm to know what and exactly how much you're putting into your body, instead of being judged for bringing your own home-prepped meal when eating out? It's funny how when you choose to take control of your health and diet, you get criticised, when it should be the other way round.' Besides, when one knows how to track food consumption and incorporate different food sources, there is still flexibility within meal plans, he says. Indeed, a common refrain is that one should not be too harsh on oneself. 'If you're consistent 80 per cent of the time, I think it's fine,' says Fu. 'It retains your sanity. I mean, I still eat ice cream. I just make up for it and work within my calorie budget.' Adds Soh: 'I used to be very precise about the metrics. And sometimes, it's very hard to track when you're travelling. But after a while, you roughly know the correct portions. I try to meet the goal and sometimes, I fluctuate a bit, but it's fine.' The good thing is, the health benefits of weight loss also come with less-obvious perks. For instance, his blood work results are now good; he feels more confident and enjoys buying clothes. 'Previously, I had to look for XL- or XXL-sized clothes, and felt very discouraged. But now, size M is big enough. These are the small victories people don't know about.' The physical change has also given him greater mental strength. 'I have become more focused and determined. I used to look for the easiest way out of every situation and avoided making difficult decisions, especially when I was tired. But today, I think 'Whether it's good or bad, I'll see this through'. So it has really helped me in terms of changing my mentality.' At the end of the day, Han says weight loss 'doesn't have to be painful'. 'You just have to be very disciplined and mindful about what you're eating. I'm a chef. I'm exposed to all this good food. So the good news is: if I can do it, others can too.'
