Obesity-related diseases surge in past decade

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans suffering from obesity and related
diseases rose sharply in the past 10 years as people eat more food and exercise
less, a government report said Monday.
The percentage of people categorized as overweight reached 31.7 percent as of
2007 from 26.0 percent in 1998, according the report by the Korea Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The percentage for men was 36.2, with the
figure for women at 26.3 percent.
According to the findings, people suffering from diabetes rose to 9.5 percent
last year from 8.6 percent in 2001.
People with low levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol, or good
cholesterol, hit 47.6 percent last year, compared with 22.2 percent 10 years
earlier.
People who walk more than 30 minutes straight at least five days a week nosedived
to 45.7 percent last year from 75.6 percent in 2001.
The drop is directly linked to more people driving cars to work rather than using
public transportation or walking.
People consumed 1.5 times more protein than recommended by health experts, with
the consumption of fat compared to other key nutrients hitting 19.5 percent from
13.7 percent in 1985.
Other contributing factors to overweight conditions, like the excessive drinking
of alcohol, rose to 47.8 percent in 2007 from 44.8 percent in 2005, the report
said.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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