The campaign aims to enhance the understanding of obesity as a chronic disease and solutions to help manage the disease among Thais and healthcare providers.
BANGKOK, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zuellig Pharma, a leading healthcare solutions provider in Asia, is organizing the "Obesity is a Disease" seminar as part of its "Reduce Size, Reduce Disease" awareness campaign. The seminar aims to reinforce the message that obesity is more than a cosmetic concern, and solutions to manage the disease among healthcare practitioners. It is a silent national public health crisis that significantly impacts individuals living with obesity, particularly women.
Studies have highlighted the urgency of addressing rising obesity rates, as the 2014 National Health Examination Survey found that 37.5% of Thais aged 15 and over were obese (BMI > 25), with the rate for women at 41.8%. By 2023, this figure had climbed to 45% for women, compared to 38% for men1. Women with obesity face an increased risk of serious health conditions, including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), uterine problems, infertility, breast and endometrial cancer. The "Reduce Size, Reduce Disease" campaign therefore aims not only to encourage behavioral change but also to dismantle the social stigma that treats obesity as a personal failure, fostering an understanding of it as a chronic disease that requires proper care.
Ms. Sunaiyanaa Kidkasetpaisal, Zuellig Pharma's General Manager for Commercialization in Thailand, said, "Zuellig Pharma is dedicated to enhancing the health of the Thai people by championing the understanding that obesity is not about aesthetics, and instead is a chronic disease requiring holistic treatment. We believe that equitable access to healthcare is the foundation of a sustainable society, and our 'Reduce Size, Reduce Disease' campaign is a direct reflection of this commitment, moving beyond promoting new treatment innovations to providing comprehensive knowledge and practical guidance on weight management. This seminar reflects our dedication in driving change and shifting the societal narrative on obesity from judgment to understanding and care, for the long-term health for everyone."
The "Obesity is a Disease" seminar involved healthcare practitioners from all over Thailand, who are committed to educating and deepening their understanding of obesity as a disease among Thais; and constantly find ways and solutions to help fight the disease.
Prof. Dr. Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, Head of the Department of Dermatology, Chief of the Division of Dermatologic Surgery, and Director of the Siriraj Skin Laser Center at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, explained, "At its heart, the "Reduce Size, Reduce Disease" campaign is about inspiring people in Thailand to embrace a holistic approach to their well-being, focusing on safe and effective health management to prevent comorbidities linked to obesity. It shows that when we truly invest in our own well-being, long-term health will be sustainable."
Asst. Prof. Dr. Mart Maiprasert, Dean and Chairman of the Graduate Program Executive Committee at the College of Integrative Medicine (CIM), said "Effective weight management today hinges on multiple factors, including a strong partnership between patients and medical experts, proper lifestyle habits, good nutrition, and consistent exercise. Together, these elements form the foundation of what we call the 'X2' approach, which emphasizes that being healthy is not achieved through dieting or exercise alone but through a sustainable, balanced integration of both for lasting results."
Master Dr. Rassapoom Sumaetheiwit, a specialist in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, added, "Helping our clients with effective body composition management is not just a series of procedures, but an art grounded in medical science, demanding a deep, individual understanding of each patient to tailor the most appropriate and safe treatment plan. This integrated approach ensures that losing weight is not merely about aesthetics, but about achieving genuine health and physical balance. Our commitment is to provide this level of comprehensive, personalized care to deliver safe and sustainable long-term results."
The "Reduce Size, Reduce Disease" project aims to raise awareness that "Obesity is a disease" requiring medical attention, while also spotlighting the urgent public health challenge that obesity represents in Thailand.
About Zuellig Pharma
Zuellig Pharma is a leading healthcare solutions company in Asia, and our purpose is to make healthcare more accessible to the communities we serve. We provide world-class distribution, digital and commercial services to support the growing healthcare needs in this region. The company was started a hundred years ago and has grown to become a multibillion-dollar business covering 17 markets with over 12,000 employees. Our people serve more than 200,000 medical facilities and work with over 450 clients, including the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.
For more information, visit https://www.zuelligpharma.com/.
References
1. https://www.euromonitor.com/health-and-wellness-in-thailand/report#:~:text=According%20to%20Euromonitor%20International's%20Economies,%2Fsq%20m%20or%20more
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Zuellig Pharma Launches "Obesity is a Disease" Seminar as Part of "Reduce Size, Reduce Disease" Campaign
ANSHUN, China, May 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 21, at the Guizhou Anshun Tourism Development Conference, Mafengwo Travel Group officially launched three flagship "New Mountain Play" benchmark projects — Huangheying Water Cave, Lotus Ancient Cave, and Luoyang Glasswater Gorge — while jointly releasing the 2026 Anshun Mountain Outdoor New Play Playbook with the Anshun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, TV and Tourism. By redefining mountain outdoor travel experiences through "new play," the initiative injects fresh momentum into Anshun's positioning as an international mountain tourism destination.
"Personalized travel is rising rapidly. Tourism is transitioning from a 'sightseeing economy' to an 'experience economy.' More than just 'having been there,' travelers today seek emotional value from scenic spots and related projects," said Chen Gang, Founder and CEO of Mafengwo, in a speech titled *Co-creating the Super Play Era of Mountain Tourism*. He noted that leveraging benchmark new-play projects such as Huangheying Water Cave, Lotus Ancient Cave, and Luoyang Glasswater Gorge, Mafengwo will work with Anshun to integrate "new play, new formats, new marketing, and new consumption" into a holistic innovation ecosystem for destination-wide play. Together, they aim to revitalize natural resources, energize industrial momentum, link rural revitalization, and jointly build Anshun into a national hub for new mountain play.
At a time when travelers are increasingly weary of "man-made check-in spots" and homogenized internet-famous projects, the newly launched projects abandon the old path of large-scale construction. Instead, they return to the wild itself, adopting a "light development, heavy experience" approach to create mountain plays that are "wild on the outside, refined on the inside." Huangheying Water Cave focuses on "natural wonders + interactive adventure," using its original "water-cave" karst features to create a genuine sense of "underground exploration." Lotus Ancient Cave, based on a massive natural cave, integrates "light ultimate" activities such as via ferrata, rappelling, and cave drop towers, allowing ordinary visitors to feel adrenaline-pumping "heart-racing moments" in a natural setting. Luoyang Glasswater Gorge follows the original river course, using natural elevation differences to design trails for hiking, canyoning, and waterfall rappelling, with minimal artificial construction, emphasizing the pristine "glass water" and an eco-harmonious, back-to-nature mountain experience.
At the "2026 Anshun Mountain Tourism New Play" sharing session, Mafengwo Travel Group and the Anshun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, TV and Tourism jointly released the *2026 Anshun Mountain Outdoor New Play Playbook*. Ten selected plays in non-traditional mountain settings were featured, including "Night Tour of Dupo Tang — Immersive Journey into the World of Journey to the West," "Watch Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Spider-Man' Climb Cliffs for Bird's Nests," and "370-Meter Free Fall at Balinghe Bridge." These showcase how Anshun creatively uses its karst landscapes as a natural "amusement park" for mountain experiences.
He Weihong, Vice Mayor of Anshun, stated in his address: "In Anshun, the 'City of 21°C,' mountains are no longer just scenery to be viewed. They are living fields to be climbed, immersed in, jumped over, and breathed in. Anshun will take this conference as an opportunity to accelerate the internationalization of its mountain tourism and build a first-class mountain outdoor sports destination." During the event, Anshun Tourism Group also promoted its mountain outdoor travel routes.
By early 2026, the number of outdoor sports participants in China had exceeded 400 million, with participation in mountain hiking, trail running, rock climbing, and canyoning rising year by year. Driven by the dual trends of "nationwide fitness" and "pan-outdoor" activities, mountain play is moving from niche circles to the general public. Unlike the high barriers of traditional outdoor activities, Anshun's new plays target the blue ocean market of "light ultimate + strong experience + high shareability." Whether it's a "bridge bungee jump," checking out the natural wonder "Eye of the Great Sage," or experiencing a "Journey to the West fantasy" at night by Dupo Tang Waterfall — these activities are novel, beginner-friendly, and serve as natural content and social currency.
Anshun's mountain play innovation has also attracted international attention. Anouar, Chief Representative of the Tunisian National Tourism Office in China, noted in his speech that Anshun's innovation in integrating mountain tourism and sports is worth learning from for many international peers. He noted that Tunisia has diverse mountain resources across the country, with history embedded in the mountains and culture in the scenery — this is the unique charm of Tunisia's mountains. He looks forward to China-Tunisia cooperation to explore more mountain tourism opportunities and co-create new partnership models.
An international dialogue session brought together representatives from the Norwegian National Tourist Board, Visit Flanders (Belgium), and the Saudi Tourism Authority to discuss mountain outdoor tourism upgrade from a global perspective. The guests agreed that they were delighted to see that Anshun is not simply replicating a "Switzerland of the East" but is creating an entirely new "universal language of mountain tourism." The internationalization of mountain tourism is not about imitation but about excavating the unique narratives of local landscapes — with its green mountains and clear waters as the canvas and play innovation as the brush, Anshun is painting a vibrant new picture for the world.
A domestic dialogue session brought together frontier explorers, practitioners, and experts in mountain sports tourism to discuss the future development of mountain sports tourism from the perspectives of communities, products, and operations. Qin Chuan, Founder of Wanan Youth Travel, noted that with technological advancements and equipment iteration, more and more "outdoor novices" without professional training can enjoy the pleasures of the wild. Currently, Wanan Youth Travel is selecting and developing "super single products" and continuously improving service quality to deliver ultimate outdoor experiences to visitors.
After the conference, industry guests conducted on-site inspections of new play projects, including Lotus Ancient Cave, Dupo Tang Night Tour, Anshun Ancient Town, and Getu River. Wang Yu, Chief Representative of the Norwegian National Tourist Board in Greater China, remarked: "Anshun and Norway share many similarities. Anshun's new mountain plays emphasize 'light development, heavy experience.' Take Lotus Ancient Cave — it doesn't feel like a 'designed' scenic spot, but rather an extension of Anshun's natural mountain charm itself, an experiential field you can fully immerse yourself in. The scale of this 'light ultimate' experience is just right — thrilling enough, yet truly authentic."
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Light Ultimate, High Experience, Original Ecology, Personalization -- Mafengwo and Anshun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, TV and Tourism Co-create New Forms of Mountain Tourism
Light Ultimate, High Experience, Original Ecology, Personalization -- Mafengwo and Anshun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, TV and Tourism Co-create New Forms of Mountain Tourism
