Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome among Children and Adolescents in Korea

Obesity is a disease that decreases life span. Childhood obesity leads to the higher prevalence of obesity in adulthood, which increases the risk of metabolic syndrome. Recently, the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is rapidly increasing among children and adolescents in Korea. The percentage of affected individuals was 17.9% among 10 to 14 year-old boys at its highest or 9.7% (boys 11.3%, girls 8.0%) on average, according to KNHANES III (The Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005) and 2005 Korean children and adolescents' growth standard program, respectively. The incidence of metabolic syndrome was 30 to 40% in obese children and adolescents in Korea. Intervention program to prevent and reduce childhood obesity on a national scale is required.