The Changes in Obesity Prevalence and Dietary Habits in Korean Adults by Residential Area during the Last 10 Years – Based on the 4th (2007-2009) and the 7th (2016-2018) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data / 대한지역사회영양학회지

ABSTRACT

Objectives@#The purpose of this study was to discover the changes in obesity prevalence and dietary habits in Korean adults residing in various residential areas during the last 10 years. @*Methods@#Data on Korean adults aged 19 years and above was obtained from the 4th (2007-2009) and the 7th (2016-2018) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were classified into metropolitan 4th n=5,977, 7th n=6,651), urban (4th n=4,511, 7th n=5,512) and rural (4th n=3,566, 7th n=2,570) based on their residence. The general characteristics, nutrient intake, intake amount, food groups, and healthy dietary factors were analyzed. The association between residential areas and obesity prevalence were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. @*Results@#In urban and rural areas, the obesity rate increased in the 7thsurvey compared to the 4th survey, excluding the metropolitan area. The carbohydrate intake decreased, and lipid intake increased in the 7thsurvey compared to the 4thsurvey. Over the same period, the intake of cereals and vegetables decreased, and the intake of meat and processed foods increased. Rural residents had a higher intake of cereals and vegetables, and a lower intake of milk and processed foods than those in metropolitan areas and urban residents. The proportion of subjects who practiced a healthy diet increased in the 7th survey compared to the 4thsurvey. In the 4th survey, there was no relationship seen between the prevalence of obesity and the subject’s residential area, but in the 7thsurvey, the odds ratio of obesity was higher in rural areas than in the metropolitan areas, confirming the regional gap (OR 1.16, 95% CI=1.00-1.36, p=0.044). @*Conclusions@#This study showed that the obesity prevalence increased in rural residents compared to metropolitan residents, indicating a gap between the regions. The nutrient intake and intake of food groups changed in the 10 years under consideration, and there were differences seen between regions. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate a policy that will reduce obesity prevalence and health inequalities between regions.