Korea’s obesity crisis: men at 50%, women at 28%

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Abdominal obesity among Koreans in their 30s and 40s has reached 42 percent and continues to rise, according to new research. The study also found that when both parents are obese, their child’s risk of obesity increases by 5.9 times, with girls facing nearly seven times a higher risk.

The editorial team for the "2025 Obesity Fact Sheet" of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO), led by Prof. Han Kyung-do of Soongsil University, analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service’s general health checkups (2014–2023) and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s national nutrition surveys.

The findings show that adult obesity prevalence rose from 31 percent in 2014 to 38 percent in 2023. Male obesity rates jumped from 39 percent to 50 percent during the same period, while female obesity prevalence increased from 24 percent to 28 percent. Cases of severe obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher, now affect three out of every 100 young men and two out of every 100 young women.

In 2023, the overall prevalence of abdominal obesity among adults stood at 24 percent, with rates of 31 percent for men and 18 percent for women. The highest levels were recorded among people in their 30s and 40s, both at 42 percent, raising alarm over obesity risks among the younger generations.

Childhood obesity patterns revealed strong parental influence. Boys were more likely to be affected if their fathers were obese, while girls were more influenced by their mothers. For girls, the rate of being overweight or obese surged at age 16 and peaked at 27 percent at age 17.

“Over the past 10 years, the number of young men in their 20s and 30s with severe obesity has tripled, while childhood obesity cases have more than doubled. This is emerging as a serious public health issue,” said Prof. Han. “Overall, obesity is no longer just a matter of personal lifestyle but could develop into an intergenerational health inequality.”

The study, titled “A 10-year Journey Through the Korean Obesity Fact Sheets: Trends, Achievements, and Future Directions,” was presented at a recent KSSO academic conference.

According to the "2025 Obesity Fact Sheet," obese individuals face significantly higher risks of various diseases compared to non-obese people: 1.9 times for hypertension, 2.1 times for diabetes, 1.5 times for hypercholesterolemia, 3.1 times for metabolic syndrome, 2.4 times for hyperuricemia, 1.5 times for osteoarthritis, and 1.4 times for chronic kidney disease. The risk of obstructive sleep apnea was the highest at 5.2 times greater.

In contrast, obesity was linked to a slightly lower prevalence of osteoporosis, at 0.8 times. While overall depression rates did not differ significantly, obese women were 1.3 times more likely to experience it compared to non-obese women.

Looking ahead, the report emphasizes refining BMI classifications, integrating cancer registry and genetic data, and strengthening obesity prevention strategies for adolescents.

The fact sheet, first published in 2016, is designed to guide public health policy and clinical practice. Marking its 10th anniversary, the latest edition was compiled by a team of 17 professors from Soongsil, Seoul National, Korea, Sungkyunkwan, Catholic, Hanyang, Eulji and Gyeongsang National universities.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top healthcare and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.