"Need to Eat Health Foods to Feel Stable" Modern People with High Health Anxiety

Increase in Modern People Managing Health Through Supplements and Foods
Warning: May Develop into Health Anxiety Disorder
Experts Say "Moderate Intake Needed If It Helps Physical and Psychological Stability"

According to a survey, 7 out of 10 modern people feel psychological stability by taking health functional foods. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] "I need to take health supplements to feel stable."

Office worker Kim (29) has been taking health supplements for two years for her health. Kim said, "I take vitamins as a form of maintenance. I heard that consistent intake is necessary for effectiveness, so I plan to continue taking them," adding, "I am generally very interested in health and look for various supplements."

She continued, "If I don't take them, my condition strangely worsens, so I even set an alarm," and added, "People around me sometimes joke, saying 'Isn't this a disease at this point?'"

Recently, the number of modern people managing their health through foods such as vitamins and supplements due to health concerns has been increasing. These individuals often react sensitively even to minor symptoms, which can lead to hypochondria, requiring caution.

Hypochondria is a tendency to excessively obsess over one's physical symptoms or health-related issues. It is characterized by excessive anxiety even when there is no actual problem with the body, especially if the condition worsens slightly. Compulsive behaviors can ironically harm health.

According to a survey, 7 out of 10 modern people feel psychological stability by consuming health functional foods.

Market research firm Embrain Trend Monitor conducted a perception survey on 'health functional foods' last month targeting 1,000 men and women aged 16 to 65 nationwide. The results showed that 93% of respondents had experience taking health functional foods, and 84.5% were currently taking them occasionally.

The intention to take health functional foods in the future was higher among women (91.2%) than men (79.6%). By age group, the intention rates were △teens 64.3% △20s 81.5% △30s 84.6% △40s 90.3% △50s 89% △60s 87.2%. This indicates a positive attitude toward taking health functional foods not only among middle-aged and older adults over 40, who have a very high intention to use them, but also among younger people in their 20s and 30s.

In particular, 51.3% of them believed that consistent intake of health functional foods could reduce the incidence of major diseases. On the other hand, only 12.5% responded that these foods do not help health.

The health functional foods with the highest consumption experience were Vitamin C (67.3%, multiple responses allowed) and multivitamins (61%). They were followed by omega-3 fatty acids (43.7%), red ginseng (43%), probiotics (39.6%), health juices (37%), Vitamin D (35.6%), and lactic acid bacteria (33.9%). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The most commonly taken health functional foods were vitamin C (67.3%, multiple responses allowed) and multivitamins (61%). Following these were omega-3 fatty acids (43.7%), red ginseng (43%), probiotics (39.6%), health juices (37%), vitamin D (35.6%), and lactic acid bacteria (33.9%).

As a result, there are cases where blind faith in health functional foods and excessive health concerns develop into hypochondria. People believe that taking supplements maintains their health. However, the nutrients taken to become healthier can ironically harm health.

Housewife Park (51), who has been taking health functional foods for several years, said, "I take about 7 to 8 different supplements, and if I miss even one, I feel unwell," adding, "Because I take so many supplements, doctors at the hospital have warned me against it." She continued, "The doctor warned that taking so many could actually cause illness," and said, "So I plan to gradually reduce the number while letting go of my worries."

In fact, many people in Korea worry about their health. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'OECD Health Statistics 2019,' in Oceania and North American countries such as Australia (85.2%), the United States (87.9%), New Zealand (88.2%), and Canada (88.5%), 9 out of 10 people surveyed thought they were healthy.

In contrast, only 29.5% of the population aged 15 and older in Korea considered themselves healthy, the lowest among the surveyed countries. This is interpreted as Koreans having a high tendency toward hypochondria.

Experts suggest that moderate intake of health functional foods is necessary if it helps physical and psychological stability.

Professor Kwak Geumju of Seoul National University’s Department of Psychology said, "Nowadays, more people especially value immunity. For this reason, trust in health supplements as helpful seems to have increased," explaining, "Because stress is high, society has become one where individuals need to take care of their bodies themselves. Taking supplements is a psychological comfort that one is doing something for their body."

She added, "Supplements can provide stability, and if there are no problems such as misuse or side effects, taking one or two health foods is okay," but cautioned, "However, anything in excess becomes a problem. It is necessary to find supplements that suit your body."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.