Recent Epidemiological Changes in Korean Obesity

In Korea, the prevalence of obesity as defined by body mass index(BMI) ≥25 kg/m² has been steady in the recent years; however, the prevalence of severe (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and extreme obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m²) has rapidly increased during the past decade. The change in the prevalence of abdominal obesity...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sang Woo Oh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Yong Chan Lee 2017-06-01
Series:The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.helicojournal.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.7704/kjhugr.2017.17.2.62
Description
Summary:In Korea, the prevalence of obesity as defined by body mass index(BMI) ≥25 kg/m² has been steady in the recent years; however, the prevalence of severe (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and extreme obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m²) has rapidly increased during the past decade. The change in the prevalence of abdominal obesity showed a similar trend to the prevalence of obesity. Based on the Korean data, the list of obesity-related diseases in Korea resembles those for the Western countries. The association between BMI and all-cause mortality in Koreans displayed a ‘U’ or inverted ‘J’ curve pattern. However, these curves have changed, and the BMI nadir of these curves exhibits a change to a higher BMI point during the past decades. Recent change in the obesity epidemic in Korea seems to resemble the previous changes in the obesity epidemics seen in the Western populations.
ISSN:1738-3331