Vietnam faces rising health risks from aging population and obesity

Vietnam is facing significant public health challenges driven by an aging population and rising obesity rates. As the population ages, there is an increasing need to protect elderly individuals with underlying conditions, such as COPD, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, from infectious diseases. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is identified as a major threat; models estimate that over the next five years, there could be approximately 4.6 million acute respiratory cases due to RSV among adults aged 60 and older in Vietnam, potentially resulting in 200,000 hospitalizations and nearly 18,000 deaths.

Simultaneously, obesity rates are climbing rapidly across the country. Approximately 19.5% of the population, or 20 million people, are overweight or obese. The rate of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 5-19 increased from 8.5% in 2010 to 19% in 2020. In major urban centers like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, obesity rates among teenagers have exceeded 50% and 41%, respectively. Experts warn that these trends increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, noting a significant gap in the country's readiness to treat obesity.