Korean J Intern Med.  2013 Jan;28(1):29-34. 10.3904/kjim.2013.28.1.29.

Gender disparity in the secular trends for obesity prevalence in Korea: analyses based on the KNHANES 1998-2009

• Rhee SY
• Park SW
• Kim DJ
• Woo J

• KMID: 1793216
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2013.28.1.29

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
A similar gender-associated trend in obesity is observed worldwide. Nevertheless, systematic analyses of gender-specific characteristics in the general Korean population are rare.
METHODS
We analyzed the prevalence of obesity in Korean adults aged > or = 19 years based on data collected from the Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys I to IV, and verified the obesity prevalence characteristics by gender.
RESULTS
The prevalence of obesity in Korean males increased during the past 12 years from 25.1% to 35.7%, and the trend for an increase in obesity was significant in all age groups (p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant trend over the past 12 years was identified for females, but the prevalence of obesity in the 30- to 39-year, 40- to 49-year, and 50- to 59-year subgroups decreased significantly (p < 0.05). However, the obesity prevalence in the 60- to 69-year and > 70-year female subgroups increased significantly (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
We observed a gradually widening gender disparity due to an increase in the prevalence of male obesity and a decrease in the obesity prevalence among young and middle-aged women.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Prevalence; Obesity; Korea; Sex characteristics

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Distribution
Age Factors
Aged
Female
*Health Status Disparities
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
Nutrition Surveys
Obesity/*epidemiology
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Sex Distribution
Sex Factors
Time Factors
Young Adult