160cm 64kg female, not obese… “Obesity standards need to be raised further” [건강+]

“The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of disease, but the basis for the 25 standard is unclear.”

It has been argued that the body mass index (BMI) set as the standard for obesity in Korea should be raised to 25 or higher. This is because after 21 years of follow-up, people with a BMI around 25 had the lowest risk of death.

A BMI of 25 corresponds to 64 kg for a 30-year-old woman with a height of 160 cm. For a 170cm tall man of the same age, 73kg falls under a BMI of 25.

Photo = Getty Image Bank

According to the National Health Insurance Corporation on the 11th, the National Health Insurance Institute conducted this study based on the results of 21 years of follow-up observation of 8.47 million adults who underwent general health examinations in 2002 and 2003 at the fall conference of the Korean Society for Health Education and Health Promotion held on the 8th. The results were announced.

BMI (Body Mass Index) is weight (kg) divided by height squared (㎡), and is the most widely used measure of obesity. In Korea, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific region standards, a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 is classified as ‘normal’, 23 to 24.9 as ‘pre-obesity’ (at-risk weight/overweight), and over 25 as ‘obesity’.

When the researchers analyzed the relationship between BMI and death, the lowest risk of death was found in the BMI range of 25. Those who died within 6 years after the start of observation were excluded. For underweight people with a BMI of less than 18.5, the risk of death was 1.72 times higher than for those with a BMI of 25, and for obese people with a BMI of 35 or more, it was 1.64 times higher.

Contrary to popular belief, the death rate in the underweight group was higher than in the BMI 25 range.

In an analysis of the relationship between BMI and cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, the overall risk of developing diseases increased as BMI increased. The researchers also interpreted this to mean that there was no clear basis for specifying the BMI range of 25 as the standard for obesity.

The risk of developing cardiovascular disease was lowest at a BMI of less than 18.5, and then gradually increased, with hypertension and diabetes highest at a BMI of 34, dyslipidemia at a BMI of 33, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases at a BMI of 34.

Professor Oh Sang-woo of Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital said, “In an analysis 20 years ago, the lowest risk of death was shown at a BMI of 23, but as body type, lifestyle habits, and disease patterns have changed to resemble those in the West, the lowest risk of death is now shown at a BMI of 25.” He said, “Considering the research results, raising the current obesity diagnosis standard to BMI 27 appears to be the appropriate diagnostic standard for Koreans.”

Lee Seon-mi, director of the Health Insurance Research Center’s Health Management Research Center, said, “Considering the risk of cardiovascular disease and death among adults in Korea, there is a need to raise the current obesity standard to a minimum BMI or higher.” She added, “China already has a BMI of 28 or higher as the obesity standard. “It is being applied,” he said.

Reporter Lee Hyun-mi engine@segye.com

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