Global Health Asia-Pacific September 2020 September 2020 | Page 8

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR All too often obesity is blamed on a lack of willpower. Overweight and obese people, in other words, should be responsible for their own extra pounds because they’re not exercising or eating right. This common narrative, however, is not only misleading but has led to enormous emotional pain and stigma, with many obese individuals being ridiculed and discriminated against across many social and professional settings, from education to the workplace and even in healthcare. In a must-read story, we set the record straight on obesity. Simply put, its causes are complex, reflecting the interaction of behavioural, genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. With some of its drivers beyond people’s control, obesity is often a chronic condition that can’t be easily fixed with sheer determination or the latest diet. Obese and overweight people don’t need blame but help, and that’s where we can all play a role. In another feature, we delve into Parkinson’s disease (PD) — a devastating neurodegenerative condition that affects movement. Sadly, it’s been on the rise over the last decade, with some experts predicting it will reach pandemic proportions in the near future. Though some medications can manage its symptoms, there’s still no cure for PD, a condition that over time incapacitates its victims, leaving them unable to go about their daily business while creating a burden for families and society. We also feature a series of interviews with medical experts who offer advice on LASIK, the routine vision-correction surgery, and sleeping pills, which should be used with care due to their potentially addictive nature. Available across Asia, the Middle East and North America Visit our website: www.GlobalHealthAsiaPacific.com to download the digital version Gabriele Bettinazzi Editor [email protected] Founders Narender Panjwani & Thomas Masterson Publisher & Managing Director Narender Panjwani [email protected] Chief Executive Officer and President Varun Panjwani [email protected] Editor Gabriele Bettinazzi [email protected] Editorial Director (Aesthetics), Branding and Communication Manager Drishti Panjwani [email protected] Copy editor Martin Murphy Design Noel de Guzman/Artmazing! Advertising Manager South East Asia SK Wong [email protected] Marketing Manager Wisal Abughalia [email protected] Sales Manager (Johor Bahru) Sangeri Jeyaram [email protected] Sales Executive (Malaysia) Shalini Nathan [email protected] Canada Office Anjika Sabhani [email protected] Kishor Sabhani [email protected] 900 Rice Road, Edmonton T6R 1A2, Alberta Canada, Tel. [phone] Dubai Office Anil Dadlani [email protected] 2207 Regal Tower, Business Bay, PO BOX 126161, Dubai, UAE Tel. [phone] India Office Surbhi Pandit [email protected] A-27, South Extension, Part 2, New Delhi, 110049 Malaysia Office GHT Malaysia Sdn Bhd Level 18, WeWork, Plaza Equatorial Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur Singapore Office Narender Panjwani [email protected] 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #11-01 Great World City Office, East Tower Singapore 237994 Global Health Asia-Pacific is a publication of HealthFYX Pte Ltd. 1 Kim Seng Promenade #11-01 Great World City Office East Tower, SINGAPORE 237994 For circulation enquiries please contact [email protected] or call [phone] Global Health Asia-Pacific is a licensed trademark of HealthFYX Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher. Founder Sunthari Pillay,[email protected] [phone] Printed by: Times Offset (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (194695-W) 6 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific.com