Health Insurance Corporation "Body mass index based on obesity needs to be raised to meet Koreans"

Attention is drawn to the National Health Insurance Service's findings that Korea's obesity standard body mass index (BMI) should be raised.

The Korea Institute of Health Insurance announced that it is appropriate to raise the current body mass index of 25 Koreans to 27 or higher after analyzing the health examination data of 8.47 million people for 21 years.

Body mass index is the weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m).

The researcher said the risk of death was the lowest in the 25th section of the body mass index, which is currently classified as obese, and it was confirmed that the risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease increased from the 27th section.

Therefore, given the priority of association with disease and supplementary consideration of death data, it was concluded that it is necessary to adjust the level of obesity currently following Western Pacific regional standards to suit Koreans.