Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia

“Being Slim Does Not Eliminate Cardiovascular Risk", Daewoong and PERKI Warn of ‘Normal-Weight Obesity’ Among Asians

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July 23, 2026

- One in Four Normal-Weight Adults Has Metabolic Abnormalities, Asians with ‘Normal-Weight Obesity’ Face Two to Three Times Higher Cardiovascular Risk

- “Dyslipidemia Often Has No Symptoms”, Do Not Rely on Appearance; Track Cholesterol Levels Through Regular Lipid Testing

- Statin-Ezetimibe Dual-Pathway Combination Therapy Maximizes Treatment Efficacy and Medication Convenience in Clinical Practice

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Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia (hereinafter “Daewoong”) partnered with the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI) to hold a media education session in Jakarta aimed at raising awareness of cardiovascular disease. Following the previous session, this public health education program was organized to correct the common misconception that slim people are protected from high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease and to provide accurate health information.

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The session focused on the fact that LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels can rise in anyone, regardless of body type. Even people of normal weight may have excessive visceral fat or risk factors related to insulin resistance, genetics, or diet. Dyslipidemia, in particular, often progresses without visible symptoms. This is why Daewoong and PERKI stressed that people should not assume they are healthy based on appearance alone and should check their cholesterol levels through regular blood tests.

From left to right: Dr. dr. Susetyo Atmojo, Sp.JP, a cardiologist and representative of the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI), and dr. Wicak Prasetiadi, Head of Brand & Marketing at Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia, pose for a photo during a media education session aimed at raising public awareness of cardiovascular disease, held in Jakarta on July 23, 2026.

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According to large-scale international cohort studies conducted in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, including the Nurses’ Health Study as cited in papers published in Diabetologia in 2019 and Endocrinology & Metabolism in 2020, normal-weight adults with metabolic risk factors had approximately two to three times the risk of cardiovascular disease compared with healthy adults in the same weight category.

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Asians are especially vulnerable to these cardiovascular risks because they tend to accumulate visceral fat even at lower body weights than Western populations. According to a diabetes study involving Asians cited in the international metabolic disease journal Metabolism in 2016, Asian adults with diabetes were about five times more likely to be lean than obese. This shows why people should not assume they are healthy based on body weight or appearance alone and should check their cholesterol levels through regular lipid testing.

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Dr. dr. Susetyo Atmojo, Sp.JP, a cardiologist with PERKI who spoke at the event, said, “Being slim does not necessarily mean your cholesterol levels are healthy. Even with a normal body mass index (BMI), a person may have so-called ‘normal-weight obesity,’ with excessive visceral fat around the organs. This can lead to insulin resistance and raise LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.” He added, “A blood test is the only way to accurately determine LDL-C levels, so regular screening is essential.”

During the media education session, Dr. dr. Susetyo Atmojo, Sp.JP also emphasized that dyslipidemia often develops without noticeable symptoms. Regular lipid profile testing is essential, particularly for individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension.

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Dr. Susetyo explained, “For patients at very high cardiovascular risk, current guidelines recommend lowering LDL-C to below 55 mg/dL, together with a reduction of at least 50% from the baseline level. In these patients, the principle is ‘the lower, the better.’ Extensive clinical evidence shows that achieving lower LDL-C levels is associated with a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death.”

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He also emphasized that dyslipidemia often causes no noticeable symptoms. Therefore, people with a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension should undergo regular lipid profile testing to monitor their cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk.

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In terms of treatment, dual-pathway combination therapy has drawn attention as a way to overcome the limitations of monotherapy and maximize treatment efficacy. The strategy combines a statin, which inhibits cholesterol synthesis in the liver, with ezetimibe, which blocks cholesterol absorption in the intestine. A single-pill combination of the two ingredients can reduce the burden associated with high-dose statin therapy while providing strong LDL-C-lowering effects. By improving medication convenience and helping patients stay on treatment, it is considered a useful treatment option in clinical practice for patients who require long-term cardiovascular protection.

Dr. dr. Susetyo Atmojo, Sp.JP, a cardiologist and representative of the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI), explained that being slim does not guarantee healthy cholesterol levels. Even individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI) may have excess visceral fat surrounding their internal organs, a condition known as normal-weight obesity.

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Dr. Wicak Prasetiadi, Head of Brand and Marketing at Daewoong, said, “The key purpose of this session is to challenge the common belief that slim people are protected from cardiovascular disease. As a trusted partner in Indonesia’s healthcare sector, Daewoong will continue its disease-awareness activities to help people protect their cardiovascular health through regular checkups and appropriate treatment.”

dr. Wicak Prasetiadi, Head of Brand & Marketing at Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia, shared that Daewoong will continue expanding public education on the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease, helping more people understand the importance of routine screening and appropriate treatment to maintain heart health.

list

- One in Four Normal-Weight Adults Has Metabolic Abnormalities, Asians with ‘Normal-Weight Obesity’ Face Two to Three Times Higher Cardiovascular Risk

- “Dyslipidemia Often Has No Symptoms”, Do Not Rely on Appearance; Track Cholesterol Levels Through Regular Lipid Testing

- Statin-Ezetimibe Dual-Pathway Combination Therapy Maximizes Treatment Efficacy and Medication Convenience in Clinical Practice

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