Gender disparity in the secular trends for obesity prevalence in Korea: analyses based on the KNHANES 1998-2009

BACKGROUND/AIMS: 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.