Korea’s obesity rate hits 34% -- men nearly twice as likely to be obese as women

Obesity affects one in three adults in Korea, with men nearly twice as likely to be obese as women.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), new findings from the 2024 Community Health Survey -- conducted across 17 major localities -- reveal that 34.4 percent of adults were obese, a striking jump from just 26.3 percent a decade ago.

Looking at the breakdown by gender, the obesity rate for men was 41.4 percent, while for women it was 23.0 percent -- meaning men were about 1.8 times more likely to be obese than women. Furthermore, among men, the highest obesity rates were observed in their 30s (53.1 percent) and 40s (50.3 percent), typically the most active in their careers. For women, the rates were relatively higher in their 60s (26.6 percent) and 70s (27.9 percent), representing the older age groups.

Over the past decade, obesity rates have climbed across the nation's 17 metropolises and provinces, revealing striking regional patterns. South Jeolla Province and Jeju Province had the highest rates (36.8 percent each), while Sejong City had the lowest (29.1 percent), highlighting how location affects obesity prevalence.

Additionally, analysis of obesity trends by city and province over the past decade confirmed that rates increased in all 17 metropolises and provinces. Among these, South Jeolla Province recorded the largest increase of 11.4 percentage points, while Sejong recorded the most gradual increase of 2.9 percentage points.

“Demand for weight management and diet solutions is skyrocketing,” KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan noted. “The KDCA remains committed to strengthening fact-based strategies not only for obesity but for other chronic illnesses as well, through ongoing surveys and research to foster a healthier nation.”