Local media outlets are calling Taiwan “fat island” (胖胖島) after Health Administration statistics and surveys show over half of Taiwanese adults are overweight, and nearly 35% have never tried to lose weight.

According to the administration’s latest statistics, the number of overweight and obese Taiwanese adults has climbed to 50.3%. The administration released survey results this Monday that revealed nearly 35% of overweight individuals have never tried to lose weight, and 59.1% of them lack knowledge of obesity-related comorbidities.

Of those who have tried to lose weight, the survey says 90% cite doing so by controlling their diet and exercising, but 76.6% say willpower is a limiting factor.

The survey indicates that 31.6% of overweight and obese individuals who have taken weight loss measures and have a high awareness of comorbidities are willing to seek professional assistance. 

Taiwan Medical Association for the Study of Obesity’s president, Lin Wen-yuan (林文元), said his clinical observations indicate that obese individuals with alarming health checkup results often believe their obesity has not negatively impacted their lives or health.

Lin emphasized that obesity is a core factor in the development of metabolic syndrome, which he explained is not a single disease but a warning sign of metabolic imbalances that can develop into chronic conditions. Obesity increases the risk of multiple diseases, making obese patients five times more likely to develop diabetes, two times more likely to develop hypertension, and 1.5 times more likely to develop heart failure.