Weight and related issues in South Korea - statistics & facts
Obesity was declared a global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997. The organization estimated that the prevalence of obesity, which is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, has tripled worldwide since 1975. It was further forecast that by 2035, around 54 percent of adults worldwide would be overweight or obese. South Korea has also seen an increase in rates of being overweight or obese, meaning a BMI of 25 or higher. Although BMI is a controversial method of measuring and classifying weight, it is still commonly used in medicine, law, and policies when dealing with weight-related issues.
While South Korea is not yet among the countries with concerningly high rates of obesity, it is nonetheless part of the global trend of rising obesity rates. Unlike in some countries like the United States, there have been no major public or social movements to combat this. There are also no major body positivity movements or other challenges to the predominant beauty ideals.
Rising obesity in South Korea
Despite the increase in obesity rates, South Korea is still on the lower end within the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), with a projected compound annual growth rate of adult obesity of 4.2 percent between 2020 and 2035. While there were some differences between age groups, the largest gap was between genders, with Korean men recording an obesity rate over 20 percentage points higher than that of women. Despite this, overweight women attempted to lose weight more often compared to men. Women were also more likely to be underweight among most age groups, with up to 15 percent of women in their twenties being classified as having a BMI of 18.5 or under.Dieting and weight loss
A 2023 survey found that the most common way of attempting to lose weight was to simply halve all portions. In terms of changes to the food consumed, the ketogenic diet was most popular. This included those who were already considered underweight. Between 2019 and 2021, over 16 percent of underweight women in their twenties attempted to lose weight. Being thin is a core part of the Korean beauty ideal and is still ubiquitous across all media. There is no major body positivity movement such as in the United States. Those with long-term obesity issues and related comorbidities sometimes resorted to bariatric surgery to lose weight. While different types exist, the common goal is to restrict food intake or nutritional absorption in order to promote weight loss and reduce medical risks commonly associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes.While South Korea is not yet among the countries with concerningly high rates of obesity, it is nonetheless part of the global trend of rising obesity rates. Unlike in some countries like the United States, there have been no major public or social movements to combat this. There are also no major body positivity movements or other challenges to the predominant beauty ideals.
