Obesity Fact Sheet in Korea, 2019: Prevalence of Obesity and Abdominal Obesity from 2009 to 2018 and Social Factors.

Background The prevalence of obesity has rapidly increased in countries across the world in recent decades. The 2019 Obesity Fact Sheet released by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity addressed the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity during the period of 2009 to 2018 and obesity-related social factors. Methods Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service health checkup database between 2009 and 2018 and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed. The prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity were calculated after standardizing for age and sex based on the 2010 population and housing census. Results From 2009 to 2018, the prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity increased to 35.7% and 23.8%, respectively, in 2018. Upward trends in the prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity were observed among both sexes and nearly all age groups. The prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity were higher among individuals with lower education and household income levels. Among occupations, managers exhibited the highest prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity. Further, the prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity became higher among individuals working longer hours and split and night shift workers. Conclusion The 2019 Obesity Fact Sheet provides information on changes in obesity dynamics during the past decade and obesity-related social factors in the Korean adult population. This report might constitute a cornerstone by which to establish targets for future interventions for reversing the rise in the prevalence of obesity and reducing the burden of obesity in Korea.