Urban obesity is a unique phenomenon, shaped by the nuances of urban living. Most efforts to address this problem adopt a medical perspective with a focus on the clinical and corporeal aspects of obesity. However, this focus has contributed little to reducing obesity: in fact, obesity rates have steadily increased, with Malaysia now the most obese nation in Southeast Asia.

To address this issue, An Open Invitation aims to use a multi-disciplinary approach to uncover and understand the complexities of urban obesity as it transcends different communities, industries and sectors. Working with community leaders in Kuala Lumpur City Centre, we will create a map of understandings that will detail people, spaces, tensions, coincidences, impacts and themes relating to obesity. The map will lay the groundwork for further research into urban obesity in Kuala Lumpur, working toward the development of context-specific and co-designed strategies and solutions that will address the multi-faceted contributors of urban obesity that have prevented successful change in the past.