COVID-19 'Hwakjjinja' Slightly Decreased but... No Recovery to Pre-Pandemic Levels

2021 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Results Show Slight Decrease in Obesity and Diabetes Prevalence
Men's Smoking and Drinking Rates Continue to Decline... Physical Activity Slightly Increases

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Although health behaviors such as drinking and physical activity, as well as chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes, which worsened among Koreans after COVID-19, showed some improvement last year, they have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.

According to the "8th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 3rd Year (2021) Results" released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 24th, the prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes among adults aged 19 and older in Korea slightly decreased.

The obesity prevalence rate in 2021 was 46.3% for men and 26.9% for women, both down from 2020; however, there was a significant increase among men in their 40s (7.0 percentage points) and women in their 30s (3.0 percentage points). Additionally, the diabetes prevalence rate was 12.8% for men and 7.8% for women, showing a slight decrease compared to the previous year, while hypertension prevalence was 25.2% for men and 17.1% for women.

In contrast to other chronic diseases, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia increased for two consecutive years in both men and women. It was 21.5% for men and 20.3% for women, with a particularly sharp rise in the 50s age group (men 7.0 percentage points, women 6.6 percentage points).

The smoking rate (based on combustible cigarettes) decreased to 31.3% for men in 2021, down 2.7 percentage points from 2020, but showed little change for women at 6.9%. The "current tobacco product use rate," which includes any tobacco product use, decreased by 2.0 percentage points to 36.7% for men but increased by 1.0 percentage point to 8.5% for women. Exposure to secondhand smoke indoors at workplaces, homes, and public places continues to decline.

The high-risk drinking rate was 19.7% for men and 6.9% for women; it decreased for men by 1.9 percentage points compared to 2020 but remained similar for women. The monthly binge drinking rate was 47.0% for men and 24.1% for women, with a significant decrease of 4.9 percentage points for men compared to the previous year.

The aerobic physical activity practice rate was 50.2% for men and 45.4% for women, increasing by 1.9 and 2.4 percentage points respectively. The strength training practice rate was 32.9% for men and 17.6% for women, remaining similar to 2020.

The "rate of experiencing depressive symptoms," surveyed every two years, was 11.3% in 2021, a slight increase of 1.1 percentage points compared to 2019, with a significant rise among both men and women in their 30s (5.2 and 5.8 percentage points respectively).

Additionally, the "rate of eating out at least once a day" was 31.4% for men and 19.4% for women, with men showing a 4.7 percentage point decrease compared to 2020. Food consumption at dining establishments decreased for both genders, while the proportion of packaged and delivery food consumption at home increased. Notably, men's alcohol intake decreased by 34.6 grams (from 139g to 104g) compared to 2020, and energy intake also dropped by 58 kcal.

Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the first year, obesity has slightly decreased and physical activity has increased, but recovery to pre-pandemic levels has not yet been achieved. Continuous monitoring and investigation are especially necessary for the prevention and management of chronic diseases among men and women in their 30s and 40s."

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