💻 Can Online Clinics Fight Obesity in Indonesia? 🍽️⚖️
Indonesia's Halodoc offers consultations, meal plans, medication, and expert support on this matter
🎯 The Main Takeaway
According to Indonesia’s 2023 Health Survey by the Ministry of Health, the national obesity rate among adults over 18 rose from 21.8% in 2018 to 23.4% in 2023. The survey projects that over 68 million adults will be living with obesity in Indonesia by 2025, with women making up the majority.
In response, Indonesian telemedicine platform Halodoc launched its digital clinic service, Halofit, on October 15, 2025, in Menteng, Central Jakarta. The service offers personalized weight management guided by doctors and nutritionists, blending science, technology, and lifestyle change to help users achieve their long-term health goals. 💻⚖️🌿
🔍Why It’s on Our Radar
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is a chronic disease caused by excessive fat buildup from an imbalance between energy intake and physical activity, making the Body Mass Index (BMI) exceed or equal 30 kg/m2.
Obesity is the “mother of all diseases”, which can cause many serious diseases, including:
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) - the leading cause of death worldwide. In 2022, about 19.8 million people died from CVDs—around 32% of all global deaths, mostly from heart attack and stroke with over three-quarters occurring in low- and middle-income countries (WHO).
Cancer - In 2022, about 20 million new cancer cases were recorded globally, with deaths reaching 9.7 million—mainly from lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. The number of new cases is expected to rise 77% to over 35 million by 2050 (WHO).
Diabetes - one of the fastest-growing global health challenges, around 589 million adults (aged 20 - 79) living with diabetes in 2024 and projected to reach 853 million by 2050. It caused over 3.4 million deaths, or 9.3% of global deaths in 2024 (The Diabetes Atlas).
Why It Matters ⚠️
According to the WHO, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 and above worldwide were overweight in 2022, including 890 million with obesity. 67% were in the Americas, and 31% were in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Mostly caused by poor lifestyle habits (lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, insufficient sleep), genetics, environmental factors, and medications.
A Lancet study projects that by 2050, 3.8 billion adults over 25 worldwide will be overweight, including 1.95 billion with obesity, the majority in China, India, and the US.
Why This Hits Home ❤️
According to the World Obesity Atlas, adult obesity in Southeast Asia rose from 78.79 million in 2020 and is projected to reach 110.28 million in 2025 and 202.62 million in 2035 — a 157% increase overall.
The Awareness, Care, and Treatment in Obesity Management (ACTION) study by Novo Nordisk in the Asia-Pacific region found that weight management discussions remain limited—only 30% of people with obesity talked to health professionals about it in the past five years.
📸 The Big Picture
The Indonesian government aims to cut obesity cases to about 3% by 2030.
To support this idea, Halodoc, through Halofit, offers a 30-day weight management program that offers online doctor and nutritionist consultations, personalized meal plans, medication support, and therapies to control appetite and reduce weight.
During the promo period, the company offers consultation tariffs of IDR 10,000, plus free delivery for Halofit medical packages.
Halodoc reported that the weight management consultations quadrupled in September, since the program’s launch in March 2025.
What’s at Stake ⚖️
According to WHO, the global cost of obesity and overweight is expected to reach USD 3 trillion a year by 2030 and over USD 18 trillion by 2060.
In Indonesia, the World Obesity Atlas reported that obesity and overweight cost the economy USD 17.47 billion, or 1.6% of GDP, in 2019. The impact is projected to rise to USD 46.76 billion (2.56% of GDP) by 2030 and USD 394.4 billion (4.7% of GDP) by 2060.
Regional Stakes 🌏
Follow the framework: ASEAN was developing the ASEAN Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Nutrition 2018–2030, which promotes good nutrition, healthy diets, and active lifestyles, and includes a plan to reduce obesity in the region.
Dr. Riyanny Meisha Tarliman, Medical & Regulatory Director of Novo Nordisk Indonesia, highlighted more regional efforts to reduce obesity, including:
Educate more: Raise awareness that obesity is the “mother of all diseases,” increasing the risk of deadly illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Teach children about healthy eating, daily sugar and calorie needs, and the importance of regular physical activity.
Lifestyle changes: Be more active, eat healthier, avoid unhealthy foods, and keep calorie intake lower than calorie output.
Doctor consultation: Have regular check-ups, online or offline, to ensure your weight loss plan fits your age, lifestyle, and needs. Keep fat levels, calorie, and fluid intake balanced for sustainable results.
Empower patients: Provide ongoing support to help them stay disciplined, adapt their lifestyle gradually, and reach their weight loss goals.
Beyond the Headlines 🧭
Southeast Asia and Africa have the lowest adult obesity rate compared to other regions, based on the World Obesity Atlas report:
Africa: 68.39 million in 2020, rising to 94.72 million in 2025.
Eastern Mediterranean: 105.6 million in 2020, rising to 133.68 million in 2025
European: 191.08 million in 2020, rising to 212.73 million in 2025
American: 246.32 million in 2020, rising to 292.55 million in 2025
Southeast Asia: 78.79 million in 2020, rising to 110.38 million in 2025
Western Pacific: 120.2 million in 2020, rising to 160.25 million in 2025
Bottom Line ✨
More convenience, less active: Online services like marketplaces, delivery, and food apps offer ease but reduce physical activity, potentially raising global obesity rates.
Less talk, more action: Indonesia’s fight against obesity must go beyond discussion, combining discipline, personalized care, and science-based approaches beyond just diet and exercise.
Focus on long-term health, not just weight loss: Empowering patients with knowledge and professional support is key, treating obesity like any chronic disease with expert care and lasting lifestyle changes.
Need More Angles?
ASEAN Strengthening the Promotion of a Healthy Lifestyle for a Healthier ASEAN Community
Halodoc Halodoc Luncurkan Halofit: Solusi Klinik Obesitas Digital dengan Program Klinis dan Menyeluruh
International Diabetes Federation IDF Diabetes Atlas 2025
IQVIA Weighing the Crisis: The Obesity Imperative in Southeast Asia
World Obesity Atlas World Obesity Atlas 2024
World Obesity Atlas Indonesia: Economic impact of overweight and obesity
(AJI/NGO/QOB)