Despite South Koreans' newly found religion of getting in shape amid the national obsession for a "well-being" life, three out of 10 South Koreans may still have to accept the fate of becoming overweight, mainly due to excessive intake of nutrients, according to a latest report by the National Statistical Office.
Men are also more vulnerable to obesity than women, while young children from the age of six to 11 are more likely to become overweight, Yonhap reported Saturday.
The number of people who absorbed excessive nutrients in 2007 took 30 percent of the entire population, lower than 39 percent a year earlier, indicating yet a fairly high figure, according to the report.
The data showed, in general, South Korean men (34 percent) tend to take access nutrients than their body needs than their female counterparts (25 percent). Residents in rural and small towns (30 percent) were also more likely to experience excess energy-induced obesity than their urban counterparts (25 percent).
Children in the age group of six to 11 topped the list as 38 percent of them are nutrition over-takers, followed by the one to two-aged infants (35 percent), and the group who are 30 to 49 years old (33 percent).
The report didn't mention what factors caused the differences.