Effect of increasing body weight on morbidity and mortality in South Korea

The number of overweight and obese people in South Korea is increasing due to changes in exercise and dietary habits. The World Health Organization estimated that 45% of Korean men and 54% of women were overweight in 2005, and the percentages are expected to increase to 66% and 67%, respectively, by 2015. Studies have also found that more than 10% of Korean children and adolescents are now obese. These trends are important from both a public health and an insurance perspective because weight gain increases the likelihood of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other disorders that affect morbidity and mortality.