title: Prevalence, awareness, and management of obesity in Korea: data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey (1998-2011).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes and several cardiovascular diseases. This study was to investigate the trends in the prevalence, awareness, and management status of obesity among the Korean population for recent 13 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence, subjective awareness, and management of obesity were investigated in adults aged ≥19 years by using the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) 1998 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of participants was 8,117, 5,826, 5,500, 3,025, 6,756, 7,506, 6,255, and 6,155 in the KNHANES in years 1998, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was 26.9%, 29.2%, 32.9%, 32.5%, 32.0%, 32.6%, 32.0%, and 32.0% in 1998, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively, while the overall prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity increased by 1.19-fold and 1.24-fold respectively in 2011 compared against 2001. In general, a gradual increase in the prevalence of severe obesity has been observed as years go by. Furthermore, trends of improvements in obesity awareness and management rates were visible over the period of surveys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the management status of obesity has improved during the recent years, more effective strategy to control obesity is needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk-Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nan Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kee-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mitochondrial Research Group, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Cha
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Korea; Obesity; Prevalence