(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly 9 trillion won (US$7.92 billion) is spent a year to treat diseases caused by health-harming habits, data from the National Health Insurance Service showed Friday.
Records provided for parliamentary audit showed the medical cost due to bad habits, such as smoking, drinking and obesity, amounted to 8.9 trillion won in 2016, up 22.2 percent from 7.28 trillion won in 2014.
The total for 2016 is equal to 13.7 percent of all medical costs under the state health insurance program.
Obesity accounted for 15.9 percent of the treatment cost from unhealthy habits. Smoking accounted for 25.3 percent and drinking 22.8 percent, according to the data.
The proportion was bigger for men compared with women, 54.1 percent to 45.9 percent. In age group, people aged 50 to 70 used 73.4 percent of the cost.
High blood pressure was the most commonly treated ailment among the group at 23.6 percent. Diabetes was next at 16.9 percent. Ischemic heart diseases and strokes accounted for 7.7 percent each.
(Yonhap)
