J Korean Med Sci.  2017 Mar;32(3):434-438. 10.3346/jkms.2017.32.3.434.

Recent Shift of Body Mass Index Distribution in Korea: a Population-based Korea National Health Insurance Database, 2002–2013

• Yoon YS
• Oh SW

• KMID: 2366639
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2017.32.3.434

Abstract

We investigated trends of obesity prevalence among adult Koreans. Data from 110,280,952 participants who underwent medical examination provided by the National Health Insurance System from 2002-2013 were analyzed. The prevalence of moderate obesity (body mass index [BMI] 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) was slightly increased from 2002 (30.7%) through 2010 (33.1%) and reached a plateau since 2010 among men but continuously decreased from 22.5% in 2002 to 20.9% in 2013 among women. However, severe obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) was rapidly increased and the prevalence in 2013 (4.2%) was almost doubled the prevalence in 2002 (2.5%). We observed a steep rise of severe obesity as well as potentially right shifting of the obese category.

Keyword

Obesity; Prevalence; Ethnicity; Weight Status

MeSH Terms

Adult
Body Mass Index*
Female
Humans
Korea*
Male
National Health Programs*
Obesity
Obesity, Morbid
Prevalence

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Age-stratified trends in the prevalence of class I, II, and III obesity for adults aged 20 years and older by sex: KNHID, 2002–2013. Obesity was categorized into the following severity categories: obesity class I: 25.0–29.9 kg/m2; obesity class II: 30.0–34.9 kg/m2; and obesity class III: ≥ 35.0 kg/m2. KNHID = Korea National Health Insurance Database, BMI = body mass index.

Reference

1. Hoque ME, Mannan M, Long KZ, Al Mamun A. Economic burden of underweight and overweight among adults in the Asia-Pacific region: a systematic review. Trop Med Int Health. 2016; 21:458–469.

2. Wang Y, Beydoun MA. The obesity epidemic in the United States--gender, age, socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and geographic characteristics: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Epidemiol Rev. 2007; 29:6–28.

3. Ng M, Fleming T, Robinson M, Thomson B, Graetz N, Margono C, Mullany EC, Biryukov S, Abbafati C, Abera SF, et al. Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet. 2014; 384:766–781.

4. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999-2010. JAMA. 2012; 307:491–497.

5. Ricci MA, De Vuono S, Scavizzi M, Gentili A, Lupattelli G. Facing morbid obesity: how to approach it. Angiology. 2016; 67:391–397.

6. Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. The burden of overweight and obesity in the Asia-Pacific region. Obes Rev. 2007; 8:191–196.

7. Lee YH, Han K, Ko SH, Ko KS, Lee KU; Taskforce Team of Diabetes Fact Sheet of the Korean Diabetes Association. Data analytic process of a nationwide population-based study using national health information database established by National Health Insurance Service. Diabetes Metab J. 2016; 40:79–82.

8. Lee H, Cho J, Shin DW, Lee SP, Hwang SS, Oh J, Yang HK, Hwang SH, Son KY, Chun SH, et al. Association of cardiovascular health screening with mortality, clinical outcomes, and health care cost: a nationwide cohort study. Prev Med. 2015; 70:19–25.

9. Song SO, Jung CH, Song YD, Park CY, Kwon HS, Cha BS, Park JY, Lee KU, Ko KS, Lee BW. Background and data configuration process of a nationwide population-based study using the Korean national health insurance system. Diabetes Metab J. 2014; 38:395–403.

10. Expert Consultation WH. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet. 2004; 363:157–163.

11. Oh SW. Obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korea. Diabetes Metab J. 2011; 35:561–566.

12. Rhee SY, Park SW, Kim DJ, Woo J. Gender disparity in the secular trends for obesity prevalence in Korea: analyses based on the KNHANES 1998-2009. Korean J Intern Med. 2013; 28:29–34.

13. Lao XQ, Ma WJ, Sobko T, Zhang YH, Xu YJ, Xu XJ, Yu DM, Nie SP, Cai QM, Xia L, et al. Overall obesity is leveling-off while abdominal obesity continues to rise in a Chinese population experiencing rapid economic development: analysis of serial cross-sectional health survey data 2002-2010. Int J Obes. 2015; 39:288–294.

14. Nishi N. Monitoring obesity trends in health Japan 21. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2015; 61:Suppl. S17–9.

15. Xi B, Liang Y, He T, Reilly KH, Hu Y, Wang Q, Yan Y, Mi J. Secular trends in the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity among Chinese adults, 1993-2009. Obes Rev. 2012; 13:287–296.

16. Rokholm B, Baker JL, Sørensen TI. The levelling off of the obesity epidemic since the year 1999--a review of evidence and perspectives. Obes Rev. 2010; 11:835–846.

17. Todd Miller M, Lavie CJ, White CJ. Impact of obesity on the pathogenesis and prognosis of coronary heart disease. J Cardiometab Syndr. 2008; 3:162–167.

18. Shin HJ, Cho E, Lee HJ, Fung TT, Rimm E, Rosner B, Manson JE, Wheelan K, Hu FB. Instant noodle intake and dietary patterns are associated with distinct cardiometabolic risk factors in Korea. J Nutr. 2014; 144:1247–1255.

19. Ha A. Obesity and its association with diets and sedentary life style among school children in Seoul, Korea: compliance with dietary references intakes for Koreans food guides. Nutr Res Pract. 2007; 1:212–217.

20. Kong IG, Lee HJ, Kim SY, Sim S, Choi HG. Physical activity, study sitting time, leisure sitting time, and sleep time are differently associated with obesity in Korean adolescents: a population-based study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015; 94:e1965.

21. Korean Statistical Information Service. The private education expenditures survey in 2007–2015 [Internet]. accessed on 18 November 2016. Available at http://kosis.kr/eng/statisticsList/statisticsList_01List.jsp?vwcd=MT_ETITLE&parmTabId=M_01_01.