Gender disparity in the secular trends for obesity prevalence in Korea: analyses based on the KNHANES 1998-2009.
OBJECTIVE
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 ≥ 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.
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sang Youl
SY
Rhee
Seok Won
SW
Park
Dae Jung
DJ
Kim
Jeongtaek
J
Woo
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Epidemiology; Korea; Obesity; Prevalence; Sex characteristics