Are South Koreans overweight?
One finding was that leg length ratios had also increased across all age groups, contributing to the increase in height averages. It was also found that the average weight among Korean men has increased over the past 40 years, with 47% now considered obese at an average BMI of 24.9, compared to 22.1 in 1979.
1. The BMI cutoff for obesity in Asians is ≥25 kg/m2 and the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO) categorizes a BMI of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2, 30.0–34.9 kg/m2, ≥35.0 kg/m2 as class I, II, and III obesity, respectively.
- Palau - 55.30%
- Marshall Islands - 52.90%
- Tuvalu - 51.60%
- Niue - 50.00%
- Tonga - 48.20%
- Samoa - 47.30%
- Kiribati - 46.00%
- Micronesia - 45.80%
Standard BMI cut-off points for the Korean population [22] were used to categorize weight status as follows: underweight: <18.5 kg/m2, healthy weight: 18.5–22.9 kg/m2, overweight: 23–24.9 kg/m2, and obese: ≥25 kg/m2.
Country | Average male weight | Average female weight |
---|---|---|
South Korea | 73.34 kg (161.7 lb) | 58.29 kg (128.5 lb) |
Spain | 82.4 kg (181.7 lb) | 66.6 kg (146.8 lb) |
Sri Lanka | 61.4 kg (135.4 lb) | 54.6 kg (120.4 lb) |
Sudan | 65.4 kg (144.2 lb) | 61.6 kg (135.8 lb) |
Incidence rates per 100,000 person-years are presented standardized for age and sex based on the 2010 census of the Korean population. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference ≥90 cm in men and ≥85 cm in women.
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Share of overweight population in China as of 2019, by gender.
Characteristic | Share of population |
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- | - |
- | - |
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Global Obesity Levels.
Global Rank | Country | % of Adult Population That Is Obese |
---|---|---|
1 | Nauru | 61.0% |
2 | Cook Islands | 55.9% |
3 | Palau | 55.3% |
4 | Marshall Islands | 52.9% |
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Top 10 Least Obese Countries in the World
- Nauru - 61.00%
- Cook Islands - 55.90%
- Palau - 55.30%
- Marshall Islands - 52.90%
- Tuvalu - 51.60%
- Niue - 50.00%
- Tonga - 48.20%
- Samoa - 47.30%
How tall is a Korean 14 year old?
Age (yr) | KNHANES II | |
---|---|---|
No. | Height (cm) | |
13 | 78 | 157.1±0.7 |
14 | 70 | 159.3±0.6 |
15 | 69 | 161.3±0.5 |
According to former girl group trainees who have experience training in various entertainment agencies, there is a common "formula" for determining the "ideal weight" that K-Pop idols must meet prior to their debut. For girl groups, the "formula" is: (Your height in centimeters) - (120) = the ideal/goal weight.

According to the results of the eighth Size Korea body index survey, adult Korean men had an average height of 172.5 cm, and adult Korean women had an average height of 159.6 cm — around 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 3 inches, respectively.
On this side of the world, obesity rates and other underlying issues are lower here. Therefore, being a size eight is considered plus-size to Koreans. At times, it can even be rare to find an L or an XL. That would fit like a medium if you were in Europe or North America.
Allowance of Weights for Men & Women - Based on Height | ||
---|---|---|
5 ft. (152.4 cm) | 166.8 lbs. (75.6 kg) | |
5 ft. 1 in. (154.9 cm) | 171.4 lbs. (77.6 kg) | |
5 ft. 2 in. (157.5 cm) | 144 lbs. (65.2 kg) | 175.3 lbs. (79.4 kg) |
5 ft. 3 in. (160.0 cm) | 146.5 lbs. (66.4 kg) | 179.8 lbs. (81.4 kg) |
According to the survey results, the average height of Koreans was 172.5 cm (5'8") for men and 159.6 cm (5'3") for women.
Size | Korea | Europe |
---|---|---|
L | 77 | 40 |
L | 77 | 42 |
XL | 88 | 42 |
XL | 88 | 44 |
Korean clothing sizes for women
The majority of Korean women are quite petite, the most produced size being a 55 (or international size small!). Even the shape of garments is slightly different in Korea. You might have noticed that clothes in stores start a little smaller and finish a little smaller as well.
Country | Obesity rate (%) |
---|---|
Russia | 23.1 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 22.9 |
Panama | 22.7 |
Haiti | 22.7 |
According to the most recent NHS health survey, around two-thirds of the English population aged 16 or over are overweight or obese. Two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. Obesity rates in the UK are higher in men. 68% of men are obese or overweight, compared to 60% of women.
What is the obesity rate in Vietnam?
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Prevalence of obesity among adults in Vietnam from 2010 to 2016.
African American women have the highest rates of obesity or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. About 4 out of 5 African American women are overweight or obese.
Several studies have found that Asians tend to have more body fat, especially abdominal fat, and less lean mass than their western counterparts with a similar BMI.
Because these cutoffs underestimate risk in the Asian population, the WHO and NIH guidelines for Asian individuals define overweight as a BMI between 23 and 24.9 kg/m2 and obesity as a BMI >25 kg/m2.
Japan had the lowest prevalence of obesity. Understanding how environmental factors in Japan differ from countries with a high obesity prevalence could offer insights into finding solutions to this global problem.
Severe obesity is defined as a BMI over 35 in the study. Their projections say that about half of the US population (48.9%) will be considered obese and nearly 1 in 4 (24.2%) will be considered severely obese by 2030.
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BMI of Adults Ages 20 and Older.
BMI | Classification |
---|---|
25 to 29.9 | Overweight |
30+ | Obesity (including severe obesity) |
40+ | Severe obesity |
They found 37% of people with type 1 diabetes had obesity, and the prevalence of kidney disease was higher in people with type 1 diabetes than those with type 2 after adjusting for age differences (16% vs. 9% in 2018).
The United States ranks 12th in the world for obesity. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 36.9% of American adults age 20 and older were obese based on 2015-2016 data. 37.9% of men and 41.1% of women are considered to be obese in the United States.
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Forbes 2007 ranking.
Ranking | Country | Percentage |
---|---|---|
43 | Germany | 60.1 |
44 | Brunei Darussalam | 59.8 |
45 | Slovenia | 59.8 |
46 | Peru | 59.6 |
Is Egypt obese?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Egypt ranks 18th with the highest prevalence of obesity worldwide (3). Deaths attributable to non-communicable diseases represent about 71% of the total mortality burden (4).
Obesity rates in France are among the lowest in the OECD, but have been increasing steadily. About 1 in 10 people is obese in France, and almost 40% are overweight (including obese). OECD projections indicate that overweight rates will increase by a further 10% within ten years.
Classification | Body mass index (kg/m2) | Risk of comorbidity according to abdominal obesity |
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≥90 cm (men), ≥85 cm (women) | ||
Pre-obese | 23–24.9 | Moderate |
Obese class I | 25–29.9 | Severe |
Obese class II | 30–34.9 | Very severe |
Eating processed, unhealthy foods, fast foods especially can not only add to your weight, but can also increase your risk of developing chronic illnesses. When it comes to Korean women, they're most likely to dine at home, rather than outdoors.
Size | Korea | Europe |
---|---|---|
XS | 90 | 40-42 |
XS | 90 | 40-42 |
S | 95 | 44-46 |
S | 95 | 44-46 |
WHO considers a body mass index (BMI) – a ratio of weight to height – over 25 to be overweight, and more than 30 obese. In China, a BMI greater than 24 is considered overweight, and over 28 is obese.
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At 17 to 18 years, the height is attained to that of the adult size with a 35% range of 170 to 175 cm and a 30% distribution of 175 to 180 cm. Comparison of height distribution from different age groups.
According to former girl group trainees who have experience training in various entertainment agencies, there is a common "formula" for determining the "ideal weight" that K-Pop idols must meet prior to their debut. For girl groups, the "formula" is: (Your height in centimeters) - (120) = the ideal/goal weight.
But, compared with the American standard for plus-sized models, the size is still much smaller in Korea. So, a plus-sized model will be a large size or an extra-large size model. It's also challenging to become a plus-sized model both in Korea and abroad.
What are bra sizes in Korea?
JP/KO | Centimeters | Inches |
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Bra Size | Band, Under Bust | Cup, Over Bust |
80AA | 80-85 cm | 34.5-35.5 in |
85AA | 85-90 cm | 36.5-37.5 in |
90AA | 90-95 cm | 38.5-39.5 in |
- Vegetables. No vegetables are off-limits. ...
- Fruit. All types of fruit are allowed. ...
- Protein-rich animal products. This category includes eggs, meat, fish, and seafood. ...
- Meat substitutes. ...
- Rice. ...
- Other wheat-free grains.
Korean people are always fit and healthy. This comes from their healthy lifestyle and diet intake. Koreans are very particular and strict about their meal and diet. They make sure to balance their food content.
Korean cuisine is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Korean people have some of the lowest obesity rates in the world, second only to Japan. Most of the main ingredients in Korean cooking are protein-based, with condiments that are very flavorful and use very few calories.