Obesity rate among 19-year-old South Korean men rises to 31%

A comprehensive analysis of health data for 19-year-old South Korean men reveals a concerning trend: the obesity rate has climbed substantially over the past decade, while the proportion of those maintaining a normal weight has declined.

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The obesity rate among 19-year-old men has increased from 23% to 31% in 11 years, while the normal weight percentage has decreased.

The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) released its first national statistics on the health of 19-year-old men, analyzing 2.95 million health check-up records from individuals born between 1996 and 2006. The data shows that the obesity rate, defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or higher, increased from 23% to 31% over the 11-year period. Concurrently, the percentage of men in the normal weight range (BMI 18.5-24.9) dropped from 49% to 41%.

Further analysis indicates a growing disparity in weight distribution. The average weight of 19-year-old men increased by 3.93 kg, from 69.44 kg to 73.37 kg. However, this increase was not uniform. The top 10% of weight gainers saw their average weight increase by 7.8 kg, while the bottom 10% gained only 0.6 kg. This polarization suggests that while overall weight may be increasing, the most significant gains are concentrated among those already heavier, exacerbating health risks.

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The average weight of the top 10% increased by 7.8 kg over 11 years, while the bottom 10% increased by only 0.6 kg.

The MMA's data, which includes 24 health indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function, and depression, also points to increased health risks associated with obesity. The obesity group exhibited higher levels of systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to the underweight group. This indicates a concurrent rise in risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases alongside weight gain.

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The obesity group showed higher levels of systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to the underweight group.

This newly released national statistic, derived from the unique position of the MMA as the sole institution conducting standardized health examinations for all eligible military conscripts, is expected to serve as a crucial foundation for future youth health policies. The MMA plans to make these findings public annually and will provide access to anonymized raw data for research purposes, aiming to contribute to national industrial development and public health initiatives.

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We will continue to develop the health indicators of Korean men as national statistics that support public health promotion and future health policy formulation.