According to WHO in 2008, 65% of the world's population lives in countries where obesity and overweight kill more than underweight (including high and middle income countries). At least 2.8 million adults die each year from overweight and obesity. In addition, overweight and obesity have a risk of developing diabetes (44%), ischemic heart disease (23%) and cancer (7%). In Indonesia, based on Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS), showed an increased prevalence of obesity in people > 18 years old from 11.7% (2010) to 15.4% (2013). RISKESDAS also shows a disparity in the prevalence of obesity in some provinces in Indonesia.
Increased obesity will have an impact on the increase in health financing. It is estimated that next 30 years the cost of obese medication every year in Indonesia who suffer from Diabetes Mellitus (DM) without complications around 2.9 trillion rupiah and DM with complications around 66.9 trillion rupiah (PT Askes, 2011). Obesity not only impact on physical health, but also on social and economic issues.
Obesity is caused by several factors:
Genetic, environmental, medicinal and hormonal. Based on RISKESDAS data, 40.7% of Indonesians consume fatty foods, 53.1% consume sweet foods, 93.5% less consumption of vegetables and fruits, and 26.1% less physical activity. Vegetable consumption is only 57.1 grams per person per day (recommendation is 200-300 gram per person per day) and the consumption of fruits and dairy products is 33.5 grams per person per day (recommendation is 3-5 gram per person per day). This figure is still low so it is not sufficient for the body's need for vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Based on these conditions, it is necessary to make an innovative serious effort by involving various elements including the central government, local government, community, and industries. These efforts are expected to halt the prevalence rate of obesity in Indonesia by 15.4% until the end of 2019 in accordance with the indicators in the National Medium-Term Development Plan 2015-2019 set out in Presidential Regulation on 2015.
In order to optimize for controlling obesity, the general policy of Non Communicable Disease Prevention should be based on community participation and empowerment because health is a shared responsibility of society, private, and government. One important effort is to encourage community self-sufficiency to live healthy, so community-based obesity control strategies generally include strengthening laws, regulations and legislation, enhancing community empowerment, conducting operational research, partnership approaches, upgrading and developing resources, improving evidence-based interventions.
In response to the above matters, the Ministry of Health in accordance with its authority, main duty and function make a General Guideline of Obesity Control which cooperate with cross program, cross sector, professional organization, non-governmental organization and industries. General Guideline of Obesity Control is expected to be a reference in implementing the Non Communicable Disease Prevention program, especially obesity control for health workers throughout Indonesia and related agencies.