Half of Men in Their 30s to 50s Are 'Obese'... Smoking Decreases While Drinking Increases

Disease Control Agency National Health and Nutrition Survey Results
Slight Increase in Prevalence of Obesity, Hypertension, and High Cholesterol

Last year, the physical activity level of adult citizens improved, but the prevalence rates of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and binge drinking increased.

On the 8th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced the results of the "9th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1st Year (2022)" containing these findings.

The "National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey" is a statistical survey conducted annually on about 10,000 people to assess the health and nutrition status of Korean citizens under the National Health Promotion Act. It serves as a basis for national health policies. Through this survey, over 250 health indicators such as smoking, drinking, physical activity, nutrition, and chronic diseases are identified.

According to the survey results, the obesity prevalence rate among adult men aged 19 and older last year was 47.7%, which is 1.4 percentage points higher than the previous year (46.3%). By age group, obesity rates were 55.7% in their 30s, 53.6% in their 40s, and 49.7% in their 50s, indicating that about half of men aged 30 to 50 were obese. The obesity rate among women was 25.7%, down 1.2 percentage points from the previous year (26.9%), but the obesity rate among women in their 20s increased by 2.3 percentage points to 18.2% compared to the previous year.

In 2022, the prevalence of hypertension was 26.9% for men and 17.0% for women. The rate for men increased by 1.7 percentage points from the previous year (25.2%), while the rate for women remained similar. Notably, the hypertension prevalence among men in their 50s rose significantly by 5.8 percentage points from 35.8% to 41.6%. The prevalence of diabetes was 11.2% for men and 6.9% for women. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 20.9% for men and 22.6% for women, with the rate for women increasing by 2.3 percentage points from 20.3%.

Smoking rates slightly decreased, but alcohol consumption rates, which had declined due to COVID-19, increased again. The rate of physical activity practice improved for both men and women.

Last year, the smoking rate (based on combustible cigarettes) was 30.0% for men and 5.0% for women, decreasing by 1.3 and 1.9 percentage points respectively from the previous year. However, the use rate of liquid-type e-cigarettes was 5.6% for men and 1.3% for women, increasing by 0.6 and 0.1 percentage points respectively. The use rate of combustible-type e-cigarettes also rose to 9.2% for men and 2.4% for women, up 1.9 and 0.7 percentage points respectively. The proportion of smokers using any tobacco product was 36.6% for men and 7.2% for women, decreasing by 0.1 and 1.3 percentage points respectively from the previous year.

On the other hand, the high-risk drinking rate was 21.3% for men and 7.0% for women. The rate for men increased by 1.6 percentage points from the previous year, while the rate for women remained similar. High-risk drinking is defined as drinking an average of 7 or more drinks (or 5 cans of beer) for men and 5 or more drinks (or 3 cans of beer) for women at least twice a week. The monthly binge drinking rate, which refers to drinking 7 or more drinks (or 5 cans of beer) for men and 5 or more drinks (or 3 cans of beer) for women at least once a month in the past year, was 48.8% for men and 25.9% for women, increasing by 1.8 percentage points for both genders compared to the previous year.

The aerobic physical activity practice rate was 55.4% for men and 50.7% for women, increasing by 5.2 and 5.3 percentage points respectively from the previous year.

The number of citizens skipping breakfast and eating out increased. Last year, the breakfast skipping rate was 35.2% for men and 32.8% for women, rising by 3.8 and 0.8 percentage points respectively from the previous year. Notably, one in two people aged 19 to 29 skipped breakfast. The rate of eating out at least once a day was 33.4% for men and 21.9% for women, increasing by 2.0 and 2.5 percentage points respectively from the previous year.

Ji Young-mi, Director of the KDCA, emphasized, "Dietary habits among people in their 20s are worsening, obesity and health behaviors among those in their 30s and 40s are deteriorating, and chronic diseases among those aged 50 and older continue to increase," adding, "Management of health risk factors among young and middle-aged adults is necessary."

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