36% of Korean Male Adults Obese

Thirty-six out of every 100 Korean male adults are obese, according to a report Monday.

The consumption of high calorie foods and less physical exercise are responsible for the emergence of the overweight adults, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.

It reported 36.2 percent of men were obese in 2007, up from 25.1 percent in 1998. ...

In contrast, the ratio of obese women has changed little, edging up to 26.3 percent from 26.2 percent a decade ago.

The ratio of obese people in the total adult population in 2007 was 31.7 percent, compared to 26 percent in 1998. That of hyper-obese almost doubled during the same period, to 4.1 percent from 2.3 percent.

About 45.7 percent of people walked for more than 30 minutes per day for at least five times a week in 2007, a large drop from 2001's 75.8 percent and 2006's 60.7 percent. The proportion of people who work out for over 30 minutes per day over five days a week until they get slightly tired, almost halved to 9.9 percent last year from 18.7 percent in 2005.

Last year, 47.8 percent of people drank more than seven glasses of soju (a cheap alcoholic drink - TC) at a time at least once a month, up from 44.8 percent in 2005.

The report also showed that Koreans consume three times more sodium than the recommended amount, and only 50 to 60 percent of recommended amounts of potassium and calcium.