Obesogenic Environments in the Middle-Aged Korean Men: Based on 2020 KDRIs

Abstract

Objectives According to 2019 KNHANES, the obesity prevalence of Korean adults was 33.8% and it has been increased by 2.5% in the past decade. With the highest prevalence of men aged 30–40 years old as 45–46.4%, we aimed to find what environmental variables affect the obesity prevalence in the middle-aged man. Methods Using the 7th KNHANES (2016–2018), obesogenic environments, such as nutrients intakes, dietary habits, lifestyle habits/disease, and exercise were collected/analyzed to elucidate the causality of obesity in 907 middle-aged men. Using the nutrient levels of 2015 and 2020 Korean Dietary Reference Intake (KDRIs) recommendation, we figured out what the variables, such as nutrients over/under intakes, lifestyle changes, dietary habits, were involved in obesogenic environments in 30–40 aged men. Results In men aged 30–40 years old, protein (146.2%) and sodium (198%) intakes were increased, however, dietary intakes of Vit A (75%) decreased, although their DRI values were elevated in 2020 KDRIs compared to 2015. Calcium (74.9%) and Vit C (72.5%), phosphate (190.7%), iron (149.7%), thiamine (141.6%), riboflavin (134.0%), and niacin (111.5%) should be fit for middle-aged men as much as each value of 2020 KDRIs recommendation. The rate of breakfast skipping was 48.1% in the thirties and 37.9% in forties, and eating out frequency was highest in 30–40 as 50%. Moreover, the drinking rate was 80.8% in the thirties as 1st, 74.9% in forties as 2nd, and the rate of muscle exercise practice in men aged 30–40 years was lower than fifties, the rate of stress cognition was highest in thirties (38.8%) in the whole lifestyle. Conclusions It is easy to neglect health and nutrition management in middle-aged men between 30 and 40 because that age is the most active on economics during life. Based on our results, we recommend the nutritional management or education in the workplace of middle-aged men and personalized diets to prevent chronic diseases in the coming elderly stage. Funding Sources This work was supported by the Rural Development Administration of Korea (RDA) grant funded by the Korea government.