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2026/5/23
Taiwan and Malaysia Join Forces Against the “Metabolic Tsunami” CMUH and UNIMAS Co-Host 200-Person Symposium, Opening a New Chapter in Precision Metabolic Medicine and Obesity Care Through International Collaboration
As obesity and metabolic disorders continue to rise rapidly in Malaysia, China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) has expanded its regional collaboration efforts following the enthusiastic response to the “1st Taiwan–Malaysia–Singapore Summit on Obesity (TMS-SO)” held in Taichung, Taiwan last year. On May 23, CMUH joined hands with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to host the “Health Symposium 2026 – The Metabolic Tsunami: Modern Strategies for Mechanism-Driven Obesity Management” in Kuching, East Malaysia.
The symposium focused on obesity and metabolic diseases from multiple perspectives, including surgical treatment, pharmaceutical innovation, public health, and mental health, highlighting the growing importance of international medical collaboration between Taiwan and Malaysia. Chih-Kun Huang, Superintendent of the International Metabolic and Body Science Center and International Center at CMUH, emphasized that obesity is not only the root cause of many modern chronic diseases, but also a chronic disease that must be properly recognized and actively treated. Ignoring obesity, he noted, often comes at the cost of health and life itself.
In 2025, Chih-Kun Huang initiated the first Taiwan–Malaysia–Singapore Summit on Obesity, bringing together presidents and experts from obesity and metabolic surgery societies across Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The summit produced twelve consensus statements recognizing obesity as a chronic disease and marked a milestone in trilateral international cooperation. This year’s symposium represented a concrete continuation of that collaborative vision.
The event featured keynote lectures by Prof. Dr. Chih-Kun Huang, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei-Fan Hsu from CMUH, as well as Prof. Dr. Cheah Whye Lian and Dr. Yu Rong Chen from UNIMAS. The symposium attracted nearly 200 participants.
Director Ling-Ying Wu from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia attended the event throughout the day and highlighted the strong support of Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare for the New Southbound Policy in healthcare. Through collaboration between Taiwanese and Malaysian experts on shared obesity and metabolic challenges, the symposium not only deepened bilateral professional exchanges but also significantly raised public awareness of metabolic diseases in Malaysia.
According to Dr. Chih-Kun Huang, the future of obesity treatment will not rely solely on surgery or medication, but rather on integrated precision care that combines surgery, pharmacotherapy, robotic technology, and smart healthcare systems. He called on international experts from Taiwan, Malaysia, and beyond to strengthen cross-border collaboration and jointly advance global obesity prevention and treatment efforts.
Obesity Is More Than a Weight Issue: Metabolic Medicine Enters the Era of Precision and Integrated Care
Centered around the theme “Metabolic Tsunami,” the symposium reflected the growing global burden of obesity, fatty liver disease, and diabetes. In his keynote lecture, “The Future Ecosystem of Obesity Care: Surgery, Medication, and Beyond,” Dr. Chih-Kun Huang outlined the evolving ecosystem of obesity care.
Future obesity management, he explained, is shifting away from isolated treatment approaches toward integrated care combining metabolic surgery, GLP-1 medications, robotic surgery, and artificial intelligence. Emerging surgical innovations such as “Sleeve Plus” procedures aim to balance effective weight loss with enhanced safety, while robotic-assisted surgery is expected to further improve surgical precision and patient outcomes. These developments showcase Taiwan’s growing innovation and leadership in the field of metabolic medicine.
A New Era in Fatty Liver Disease Treatment: Dr. Wei-Fan Hsu Highlights the Critical Role of GLP-1 Therapies
Obesity and metabolic dysfunction are key drivers of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In his presentation, “Treating MASLD by Treating Obesity: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 and Guidelines,” Dr. Wei-Fan Hsu discussed the close relationship between obesity and the rapidly increasing prevalence of MASLD worldwide.
With the emergence of GLP-1-based therapies and next-generation anti-obesity medications, treatment strategies for fatty liver disease have evolved from a purely liver-centered approach to comprehensive metabolic management. Dr. Hsu emphasized that early intervention in patients with obesity and diabetes, in accordance with the latest international guidelines, can effectively prevent the progression of liver fibrosis and steatohepatitis. This paradigm shift—from liver-focused care to metabolic-centered treatment—has become a major breakthrough in metabolic disease management.
Obesity Is Not Just a Personal Issue: Advocating Healthier Environments Through Public Policy
From a public health perspective, Dr. Cheah Whye Lian delivered a lecture titled “Rethinking the Obesity Pandemic,” examining how urban environments, ultra-processed foods, and social inequality collectively contribute to the global obesity crisis.
She stressed that obesity should not be viewed merely as a consequence of personal lifestyle choices, but rather as a systemic issue requiring improvements in community nutrition, environmental design, and public policy to create healthier living conditions.
From Emotions to Eating: Understanding the Psychology Behind Emotional Eating
Dr. Yu Rong Chen presented “Emotional Eating: When Mind Shapes the Body,” exploring the deep connections between emotions and eating behaviors.
She explained that binge eating, restrictive eating, and emotional eating are often closely linked to stress, family experiences, and unmet psychological needs. Sustainable weight management, she noted, requires integrating psychological support with medical care to foster healthier and more compassionate relationships with food and self.
Taiwan–Malaysia Medical Collaboration Continues to Deepen, Building a New Milestone in Global Healthcare
This marks the fifth consecutive year that CMUH has participated in Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare New Southbound Policy initiatives in Malaysia—including Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, and Sabah—as well as Brunei.
Since signing a memorandum of understanding with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in 2024, both institutions have actively promoted academic symposia, physician training programs in Taiwan, and mutual exchanges, including invitations for UNIMAS leadership to attend the Taiwan Healthcare+ Expo. Building on this foundation, this year’s symposium further focused on obesity and metabolic health, demonstrating Taiwan’s international competitiveness and influence in advanced medical technology and multidisciplinary integrated care.
Following the inaugural Taiwan–Malaysia–Singapore Summit on Obesity (TMS-SO) initiated by CMUH last year, the second summit will be hosted this year by the Malaysian Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Society. Through continued international collaboration, the platform aims to promote research exchange, shared care models, and multicenter clinical studies, while working together to establish a model of excellence in obesity treatment across Asia.
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