Rising obesity in S. Korea comes amid doubts over BMI's reliability
A concerning trend in South Korea's public health profile emerged in recent data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a research arm of the Health Ministry.
According to the report, made public Oct. 18, 32.5 percent of Korean adults were classified as either overweight or obese with Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or above in 2022, increasing by a third from a decade before when the figure stood at 24.5 percent.
Although nearly 1 in 3 South Koreans are now classified as overweight, the country still fares better than most other advanced economies.
According to a 2022 report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development based on 2020 data, 37.8 percent of Korea's adult population is overweight or obese, second only to Japan's 27.2 percent.
This contrasts sharply with figures from the UK and the US, where the percentages stand at 64.2 percent and 73.1 percent, respectively.
All of which begs the question -- is BMI a reliable measure of health risks?
The widely-used metric, which calculates weight in relation to height squared, has increasingly been criticized for its potential oversimplifications and inaccuracies.
Some experts point out that BMI can be particularly misleading for people who are significantly shorter or taller than average. Moreover, its origins from the 19th century, based primarily on a narrow demographic of White, European men, have sparked debates about its relevance to different racial and ethnic groups.
Global variations in defining overweight and obesity further complicate the picture. While a BMI of 25 to 30 is typically considered overweight in Europe and the Americas, countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Korea tend to set lower thresholds, with 23 to 24.9 being classified as overweight and 25 or above as obese.
The adjustment reportedly addresses higher risks of metabolic diseases among Asians at lower BMI levels as indicated in some studies -- the UK's National Health Service also has different BMI cut-offs for Black and Asian people -- but it nonetheless adds fuel to an ongoing debate about the index's global relevance and reliability.
In light of these concerns, some health experts advocate for alternative measures, such as waist-to-height ratio. They say this measure offers a more accurate assessment of weight-related health risks, particularly those associated with abdominal fat, which is a far stronger health risk indicator than fat in other areas of the body. As the conversation evolves, there seems to be a growing consensus that health assessments should move beyond BMI to incorporate a more holistic view of an individual's health and fitness.
(责任编辑:예술)
Things look bright for ‘Past Lives’ Oscars prospects
S. Korea's heavyweights like ex
BTS gets 6th top honor at 2023 MAMA Awards
Labor unions slam government efforts to attract more foreign workers
NYT picks Yoon as one of most stylish people of 2023
- Moon officials tried to cover up North Korea’s murder of South Korean: state inspectors
- LG Electronics CEO to present AI vision at CES
- Transgender blind spot in hospitalization: NHRCK
- Hyundai Elevator, Erbud team up to rebuild Ukraine
- Things look bright for ‘Past Lives’ Oscars prospects
- German envoy calls for enhanced security cooperation with S. Korea
- [Herald Review] ‘Single in Seoul’ a bland rom
- Seoul anticipates 3
-
[KH Explains] Banks, regulators trade blame for snowballing ELS losses
Korea is in the middle of blame-shifting, as banks face more than 3 trillion won ($2.28 billion) in ...[详细]
-
정부, GP 복원 계획…김태효 "北 무장에 가만히 있으면 안된다"
김태효 국가안보실 1차장은 북한의 최전방 감시초소(GP) 복원에 대응해 우리 GP도 복원할 계획이라고 27일 밝혔다.김태효 국가안보실 1차장. 연합뉴스김 차장은 이날 KBS 뉴스라 ...[详细]
-
Hanwha Ocean developing submarine stealth technology
Hanwha Ocean is leading a government research project on defense and security technology for buildin ...[详细]
-
Hanwha Ocean developing submarine stealth technology
Hanwha Ocean is leading a government research project on defense and security technology for buildin ...[详细]
-
Born rich, promoted young: chaebol scions become president just after 40
Members of major conglomerate owner families generally become executives in their mid-30s, and assum ...[详细]
-
LS Materials to tap deeper into EV, green energy markets
LS Materials, a South Korean energy storage device manufacturer, said on Tuesday the firm will furth ...[详细]
-
S. Korea's English proficiency slips 13 notches to 49th
South Koreans’ English proficiency in 2022 worsened from the previous year, descending 13 spots in a ...[详细]
-
Hillstate Gayang flats in Daejeon to go on sale
Some 350 flats at Hyundai Engineering & Construction's new apartment complex, Hillstate Gayang ...[详细]
-
Yoon nominates former boss to head broadcasting watchdog
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday nominated Kim Hong-il, the incumbent chief of the Anti-Corrupti ...[详细]
-
Disability rights group lodges complaint with rights watchdog over leader's arrest
A disability rights advocacy group said Tuesday it will file a complaint with the state human rights ...[详细]
- [view] 민심 더 싸늘해지는데…감동 없는 김기현 2기
- Cast of ‘Norma’ says opera difficult to sing but easy to enjoy
- 김성원 여의도연구원장 "공천장사 지라시, 허위사실 유포로 고소"
- [Contribution] Why hope matters in climate crisis
- Reeling from election loss, ruling party picks new leader posts
- Hyundai Motor shows off air mobility, drone tech at Seoul defense fair
- Welcome Daehakro Festival lights up Seoul's stage hub
- 탄약 찾는 러…국방부 "北컨테이너 적재량, 포탄 수십만발 분량"
- 'Apgujeong Box Girl' sparks online debate
- Yoon, doctors set to clash over medical school quota
[KH Explains] Banks, regulators trade blame for snowballing ELS losses
Trilateral cooperation unaffected by US election outcomes: Goldberg
- Auditor says Moon govt distorted 2020 death of fisheries official
- Seoul shares start lower ahead of key rate decision
- Samsung Biologics sees highest
- Criminal procedures for foreigners in Korea
- Congresswoman redoubles calls for support to designate Nov. 22 as 'Kimchi Day'
- Jeju's autonomy is model for Western Sahara: Morocco
- S. Korea's English proficiency slips 13 notches to 49th