Nearly half of South Korean men in their 20s and 30s are classified as obese. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly half of South Korean men in their 20s and 30s are classified as obese, while about 30% of young adults are in the pre-diabetes or pre-hypertension stage, according to a new study highlighting alarming health trends among the country’s younger population.
The findings, published in a recent issue of the Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine, analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2019 and 2021.
The study, led by Professor Kim Seung-hee of Wonkwang University Sanbon Hospital, examined obesity prevalence and related metabolic disorders among 3,609 young adults aged 19 to 39, including 1,646 men and 1,963 women.
Alarmingly High Obesity and Pre-Disease Rates
The study found that 45.4% of men surveyed had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher, classifying them as obese. Additionally, 29.2% of young men were in the pre-diabetes stage, and 31.1% had pre-hypertension.
Among women, the obesity rate was 20.5%, with 17.7% classified as pre-diabetic and 12.5% in the pre-hypertension stage.
Socioeconomic and Lifestyle Risk Factors
Obesity in young South Koreans was strongly linked to low education levels and high-stress environments.
Among men, additional risk factors included being married, having a low income, a history of smoking, and alcohol consumption. For women, unemployment was identified as a significant risk factor for obesity.
While the study noted limitations in establishing direct causality between obesity and its risk factors, researchers emphasized the growing severity of the issue among young adults.
Call for Targeted Prevention Strategies
The research team urged the need for customized obesity prevention and management strategies tailored to young adults, considering the strong correlation between obesity and socioeconomic status, stress levels, and lifestyle habits.
“The prevalence of obesity, as well as pre-diabetes and pre-hypertension, is alarmingly high among young South Korean adults,” the study noted. “To prevent the progression to metabolic diseases, targeted interventions addressing obesity-related risk factors are essential.”
As the health implications of obesity continue to escalate, experts warn that proactive measures will be crucial in curbing the long-term effects on South Korea’s younger generations.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
