Weight Gain, Comorbidities, and Its Associated Factors Among Korean Adults

Abstract

Background Weight gain in adults is associated with an increased risk of obesity-related diseases and high healthcare costs. However, there have been limited studies on weight gain in Asians. This study investigated the prevalence, comorbidities, and associated factors of weight gain in the Korean population. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of Korean adults aged 19–64 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2016–2019. We used data from 15,514 adults (subjects 1) to analyze the prevalence of weight gain. Finally, after excluding adults with suspicious debilitating conditions among them, 11,477 adults (subjects 2) were used to analyze comorbidities and associated factors. Weight changes and lifestyle factors were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. We analyzed odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine factors associated with weight gain. Results The overall prevalence of weight gain was 25.7% in men and 31.3% in women and decreased significantly with age in both sexes. Weight gain of ≥ 6 kg was evident in 10.5% of men and 9.8% of women and was more pronounced with a higher baseline body mass index (BMI). Most metabolic comorbidities worsened the greater the weight gain. Young age was the strongest associated factor for weight gain. Other factors associated with weight gain were being unmarried, blue-collar job, lower income, and alcohol consumption in men; being married in women; smoking and skipping breakfast in both sexes. Conclusion Weight gain was much more pronounced in younger adults and at a higher baseline BMI in both sexes. Public education and health policies to prevent unnecessary weight gain should be strengthened by considering the associated harmful factors in Korean adults.

Association between Weight Change and Incidence of Dyslipidemia in Young Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Korean Male Soldiers

“… 6 In addition, a Korean study with individuals aged 19 to 64 years found that gaining weight over a year was associated with worsening total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. 12 However, this study differs from prior studies in certain aspects. First, the study population in this study was limited to young adults.…”

“… 6 , 8 Furthermore, it has been observed in both sexes. 9 , 12 However, there is a lack of research investigating the relationship between weight changes and dyslipidemia in young adults.…”

“… 14 Weight gain has been more prominent among young men compared with older age groups or women. 12 However, as lipid profiles are not typically assessed for young men, there is a lack of research on the effect of weight changes on dyslipidemia in this population. As the majority of young Korean men are required to serve in the military and undergo health screenings during their service, we used military health screening data to investigate the effect of weight changes on dyslipidemia in this population.…”

Predictors of weight and waist gain in US South Asians: Findings from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study

“…Past studies have found that determinants of weight and waist change during adulthood are multifactorial and can be in uenced by sociodemographic factors (6-8), dietary factors (9)(10)(11)(12)(13), behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking (12,13), physical activity levels (7,11), metabolic conditions such as diabetes (6, 14), and psychological factors (15). Similar studies examining weight and waist change over time are limited among South Asian Americans, an underrepresented group in research studies.…”