{"id":2201417,"date":"2023-06-19T18:25:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-19T09:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201417"},"modified":"2023-06-20T19:07:54","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T10:07:54","slug":"scales-of-inequality-how-socio-economic-factors-amplify-obesity-in-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/06\/scales-of-inequality-how-socio-economic-factors-amplify-obesity-in-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Scales of inequality: How socio-economic factors amplify obesity in South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"
Obesity is becoming a major problem in South Korea, compounded by <\/span>mental health concerns<\/span><\/a> and socio-economic implications stemming from the <\/span>COVID-19 pandemic<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But different communities are hit harder than others, with the most vulnerable experiencing the brunt of this health crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The complex nature of this escalating obesity issue necessitates interventions that go beyond mere dietary adjustments. According to a 2022 study from the <\/span>Korean Society for the Study of Obesity<\/span><\/a>, about one in three people in the country \u2014 36.3% \u2014 were clinically obese in 2019, a jump from 29.7% in 2009.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The gender distribution within these figures is noteworthy, as 46% of Korean men over 20 fall into this category, compared to 27% of women. Researchers attribute these rising numbers to <\/span>shifts in dietary habits<\/span><\/a>, such as frequent dining out leading to a higher intake of sodium and fat and a trend towards excessive energy intake.<\/span><\/p>\n COUNTRYSIDE AT RISK<\/b><\/p>\n Increasing obesity rates impact different demographic groups to varying degrees. Notably, a <\/span>joint study<\/span><\/a> conducted by Kunsan and Touro universities revealed that rural Koreans are marginally more likely to be overweight or obese than their urban counterparts, with figures at 60.8% and 56.4%, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n This disparity also echoes <\/span>nutritional inequalities<\/span><\/a> between rural and urban areas, where distinct eating habits have resulted in diverging health outcomes. The study found that less affluent individuals in urban areas and wealthier residents in rural areas are experiencing higher obesity rates, exacerbating the burden of associated chronic health conditions among these groups.<\/span><\/p>\n Further, the <\/span>2019 Korea Obesity Fact Sheet<\/span><\/a> suggested a strong link between longer working hours and higher rates of obesity.<\/span><\/p>\n A 2020 longitudinal study tracking obesity trends from 2009 to 2018 also revealed socioeconomic disparities in obesity prevalence. The <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> indicated that Koreans with lower incomes and educational attainment were at a higher risk of being overweight or obese, a trend especially pronounced among women.<\/span><\/p>\n