Health experts emphasize that obesity is no longer merely a lifestyle or cosmetic issue but a serious medical condition requiring prevention and treatment. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – As obesity rates surge across all age groups in South Korea, lawmakers have introduced groundbreaking legislation to address what they increasingly see as a national health emergency.
Representative Park Hee-seung of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, announced today the introduction of the Obesity Prevention and Management Act, marking the country’s first comprehensive approach to tackling obesity at the national level.
The proposal comes as obesity rates reach alarming levels. According to the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, 49.2% of adult males were classified as obese in 2021.
Even more concerning is the dramatic rise in childhood obesity: between 2012 and 2021, rates increased approximately 2.5 times for boys (from 10.4% to 25.9%) and 1.4 times for girls (from 8.8% to 12.3%).
The economic impact is equally stark. The National Health Insurance Service reports that obesity-related social costs exceeded 15.6 trillion won in 2021, growing at an average annual rate of 7%.
These costs now surpass those associated with smoking (11.42 trillion won) and alcohol consumption (14.62 trillion won), placing an unprecedented burden on the national health insurance system.
“Obesity rates continue to rise not only among adults but also among children and adolescents, with growing disparities across gender, age, income levels, and regions,” Park said. “Given the social costs and losses associated with obesity, we need legal and institutional mechanisms at the national level to address this issue.”
The proposed legislation includes provisions for developing basic obesity prevention plans, conducting nationwide surveys, establishing an obesity prevention and management committee, training specialists, implementing research programs, and designating a national obesity prevention day.
The bill, which was included in the Democratic Party’s platform for the upcoming 22nd general election, follows discussions at a National Assembly forum in September and parliamentary audits in October.
Health experts emphasize that obesity is no longer merely a lifestyle or cosmetic issue but a serious medical condition requiring prevention and treatment. It is recognized as a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes and can significantly impact quality of life, often leading to depression and social isolation.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
