Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Weight and related issues in South Korea - statistics & facts
Obesity was declared a global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1997. The organization estimated that the prevalence of obesity, which is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, has tripled worldwide since 1975. It was further forecast that by 2035, around 54 percent of adults worldwide would be overweight or obese. South Korea has also seen an increase in rates of being overweight or obese, meaning a BMI of 25 or higher. Although BMI is a controversial method of measuring and classifying weight, it is still commonly used in medicine, law, and policies when dealing with weight-related issues.
