Van obesity centre declares obesity a chronic disease, not a cosmetic issue

On European Obesity Day, health experts highlighted the rise of obesity as a major global health threat. In Turkey, the national prevalence is around 30‑31%, with the eastern province of Van facing particularly high rates.

Van Education and Research Hospital’s Obesity Centre, founded in 2019 by Prof. Dr. Sebahattin Çelik, has treated roughly 2,000 patients. About 60% of those who sought help achieved significant weight loss, and 200 patients underwent surgical interventions. Çelik emphasized that obesity is “one of the era’s biggest pandemics” and should be viewed as a chronic, multifactorial disease rather than a purely cosmetic concern. He warned that weight regain is common—affecting around 60% of patients—and that long‑term management must include medical, psychological, and social support.

The centre’s experience underscores the need for comprehensive, sustained treatment strategies to curb the health impacts of obesity in the region.