By So says this report:
One out of every three adults in South Korea is considered overweight or obese and faces increased risk of health problems, a report showed on Friday.
According to the report submitted by the National Health Insurance Corp., 3.24 million, or 32.8 percent, out of 9.87 million adults who had regular checkups last year were overweight or obese. [Yonhap]
This does seem high to me compared to what I see walking around the streets in Korea. I have to wonder what their rationale for declaring someone obese is? Keep in mind that Korea’s obesity rate is the lowest in the OECD.
However, I think it is a fair assessment to say that Koreans are becoming increasingly obese likely due to the change in diet and exercise compared to older generations of Koreans.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
10:04 am on October 23rd, 2009 1
Korean national BMI standards are probably much lower than those used in North America. 1/3 seems too high unless Koreans have gotten heavier in the last decade. I suspect most of those 1/3 are merely overweight, not obese, by Korean standards. In the US, on the other hand, I believe that there are nearly as many obese as overweight.
10:43 am on October 23rd, 2009 2
Actually, North-East Asians supposedly store more fat around the organs than Europeans and less below the epidermis. So, it would be possible for a Korean to look relatively thin and still be obese.
11:03 am on October 23rd, 2009 3
I bet they could improve their score if they counted Koreans south of the Yalu/Amnok River rather than those roughly north of the Imjin
!
11:04 am on October 23rd, 2009 4
I meant south of the Imjin. Sorry.
11:57 am on October 23rd, 2009 5
Any source? Organ fat is supposidly much more dangerous.
3:14 pm on October 23rd, 2009 6
"Any source? Organ fat is supposidly much more dangerous."
Wait a minute. I have a fat organ. You got me worried.
3:28 pm on October 23rd, 2009 7
I'm sure it's not that fat.
4:07 pm on October 23rd, 2009 8
"I’m sure it’s not that fat."
Naw. It only looks that way because it's long.
10:22 am on October 24th, 2009 9
Exercise helps.
11:04 am on October 25th, 2009 10
Snark aside, one has to get out of Gangdam / Apgujeong and start looking at the older (and yes, fatter) guys that frequent the hof / samgyeopsal places. They're out there – and being 'overweight' under definition is pretty hard to avoid.
Young Korean women probably have the lowest BMI's and the most underweight, but they're a smaller demographic than you think…
2:20 pm on October 25th, 2009 11
"Exercise helps."
I do… every chance I get.
…and when I can't find a workout partner, I have been known to exercise by myself.