The Korean government will distribute newly established obesity prevention guidelines for children and adolescents to schools nationwide. This marks the first time the country has defined obesity as a chronic disease rather than simply a weight issue and developed national-level prevention protocols.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on March 3, ahead of World Obesity Day (March 4), that it has jointly established the "Obesity Prevention and Management Guidelines for Children and Adolescents" with the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity. The guidelines will be distributed to schools nationwide in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. Four educational videos on obesity prevention have also been produced and will be released on the KDCA website and the National Health Information Portal.
According to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, obesity prevalence among children aged 6 to 11 reached 13.6% between 2022 and 2024, while the rate for adolescents aged 12 to 18 stood at 15.1%. Male students recorded particularly high rates, exceeding 18%.
The Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey also revealed deteriorating lifestyle habits. Some 42.4% of respondents reported skipping breakfast five or more days per week, while 28.9% consumed fast food three or more times weekly. Meanwhile, only 17.3% engaged in physical activity for at least 60 minutes per day, five days a week.
The new guidelines include recommendations for regular meals including breakfast, at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity, limiting TV and smartphone use to under two hours per day, drinking water instead of sugary beverages, and getting sufficient sleep. Separate guidelines for guardians, including parents and teachers, were also developed to emphasize the roles of families and schools.
The National Institute of Health will also pursue research to develop customized obesity intervention programs for children and adolescents that reflect regional characteristics. The agency plans to establish standardized intervention models to address health disparities between regions and link them to policy initiatives.
"Obesity is not simply weight gain but a disease that requires prevention," said KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan. "The effects can be maximized when families, schools, and communities work together."