In Southeast Asian (SEA) countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, there has been a significant increase in overweight and obesity. In Indonesia, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2013 was 13.5% and 15.4%, respectively. Over the next five years, overweight slightly increased by 0.1%, while obesity rose by 6.4%. In Malaysia, from 2015 to 2019, overweight among males decreased by 0.8% to 30.8%, and obesity in males increased by 0.3% to 15.3%. Among females, overweight increased by 1.7% to 30.0%, and obesity rose by 4.1% to 24.7%. The Philippines saw increases in obesity (2.4%) and overweight (4.1%) from 2015 to 2018. In Thailand, from 2008/9 to 2013/4, overweight/obesity prevalence increased in both genders, with females having a higher rate in both periods.

To combat the obesogenic environment, it is vital to intervene at community and policy levels, promoting healthier food choices. In Southeast Asia, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) governments are dedicated to addressing malnutrition, yet challenges arise from a limited understanding of contextual and policy factors affecting the food retail sector. Decentralization and private sector dynamics further hinder national efforts in shaping a healthier food environment. Questions persist regarding the retail food environment in SEA, with policymakers lacking clarity on the landscape, consumer interactions, and policy factors. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further disrupted the food system, revealing vulnerabilities and potentially contributing to diet inequality.

To improve access to healthy foods, retail stores can play a key role by offering culturally acceptable and affordable options. In SEA countries, a shift to supermarkets from traditional markets has impacted the availability of fresh, healthy, and affordable food, particularly for lower-income populations. Additionally, there is a surge in packaged and processed foods in convenience stores across the SEA region, with a lack of evidence on the retail food environment and consumer practices. The SEA Obesogenic Food Environment (SEAOFE) study aims to address an insufficient analysis of policy opportunities and challenges in creating healthy retail food environments.