By The Korea Times

Copyright scmp

Abdominal obesity among Koreans in their thirties and forties has reached 42 per cent and continues to rise, according to new research.
This condition of having excessive “active fat” stored deep within the abdomen, surrounding organs such as the liver, pancreas and intestines, is strongly linked to serious health risks.
A new 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.
Professor Han Kyung-do of Soongsil University in Seoul led the editorial team for the “2025 Obesity Fact Sheet” of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO).

It analysed data from Korea’s National Health Insurance Service’s general health check-ups (2014-2023) and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s national nutrition surveys.
It showed that the rate of obesity in adults rose from 31 per cent in 2014 to 38 per cent in 2023.
Obesity rates in men jumped from 39 to 50 per cent during the same period, while obesity prevalence in women rose from 24 to 28 per cent.
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 per cent, with rates of 31 per cent for men and 18 per cent for women.
The highest levels were recorded among people in their thirties and forties, both at 42 per cent, raising alarm over obesity risks among younger generations.

Childhood obesity patterns revealed a 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 per cent at age 17.
“Over the past 10 years, the number of young men in their twenties and thirties with severe obesity has tripled, while childhood obesity cases have more than doubled. This is emerging as a serious public health issue,” Han says.
“Overall, obesity is no longer just a matter of personal lifestyle but could develop into an intergenerational health inequality.”
The study, “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 high cholesterol; 3.1 times for metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes); 2.4 times for hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels that may lead to gout); 1.5 times for osteoarthritis; and 1.4 times for chronic kidney disease.
The risk of obstructive sleep apnoea 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 emphasises 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 17 professors from Soongsil University, Seoul National University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, the Catholic University of Korea, Hanyang University, Eulji University and Gyeongsang National University.
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