KUCHING, 25 May 2026 – To combat the rising tide of chronic health challenges, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), in collaboration with China Medical University Hospital (CMUH), Taiwan, hosted a landmark medical forum titled “The Metabolic Tsunami: Modern Strategies for Root-Cause Obesity Management” on 23 May 2026 at the Hilton Kuching.
This half-day forum serves as a testament to the enduring partnership between the UNIMAS Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and CMUH—a premier medical institution renowned for its clinical innovation and global reach. Building on a history of successful joint symposia, this event focused on advancing medical technology and enhancing patient care standards.
The term “metabolic tsunami” aptly characterizes the global escalation of obesity and its subsequent burden on public health. Recognised by the World Health Organization as a chronic disease since 1997, obesity is a primary driver of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other non-communicable conditions. With major global health bodies, including the American Medical Association, formally classifying obesity as a disease requiring medical intervention, the forum underscored the urgent need for a paradigm shift in treatment.
The event brought together leading clinicians and researchers to advocate for evidence-based, long-term, and root-cause management strategies. By integrating perspectives from clinical medicine, nutrition, and psychology, the forum provided a comprehensive framework for both individual patient care and broader community-based interventions.
“We value the continued collaboration with CMUH in addressing current health challenges,” said Prof. Dr. Asri Said, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at UNIMAS. “This forum provides a vital opportunity for healthcare professionals to exchange knowledge and explore practical, effective approaches to obesity management.”
The forum featured a distinguished panel of speakers who explored the intersection of technology, medicine, and human behaviour:
- Prof. Dr. Chih-Kun Huang (CMUH): The future ecosystem of obesity care: surgery, medication, and beyond.
- Prof. Dr. Cheah Whye Lian (UNIMAS): From Obesity to Globesity: Rethinking the Epidemic Through a Community and Public Health Nutrition Lens.
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei-Fan Hsu (CMUH): Treating MASLD by Treating Obesity: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 and Guidelines.
- Dr. Chen Yoke Yong (UNIMAS): Emotional Eating: When Mind Shapes the Body.
