Nearly half of young Korean women with normal,
low weight try to shed even more: study
The research document released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reveals worrisome patterns concerning body weight among Korean women. Among those in their 20s, about one in every six to seven women is considered underweight, and almost half of those who are underweight or have a normal weight in the same age group try to lose more weight. Interestingly, the situation is different for men in their 30s and 40s, as fewer of them are attempting to lose weight despite an increase in obesity rates. The KDCA report shares that in 2021, 15.1% of women aged 19 to 29 were underweight, which is an increase from 14.8% between 2019 and 2021.
Additionally, 16.2% of underweight women and 53.9% of women with a normal weight tried to lose weight. When we combine these numbers, it shows that 46% of women with underweight or normal weight still want to lose more weight. The pressure from society to have a slim body is contributing to this trend, which could lead to health problems like cardiovascular issues and an increased risk of malnutrition, anemia, and osteoporosis. Looking at the bigger picture, the study finds that 54.6% of men and 62.9% of women classified as obese attempted weight loss between 2019 and 2021. Obesity rates have gone up among men in their 30s and 40s, but the percentage of obese men trying to lose weight has decreased. The study stresses the importance of educating people about healthy bodies and launching media campaigns to counter the societal pressures that lead to unnecessary weight loss, especially among young women.
Questions:
1. What does the research document from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reveal about body weight patterns among Korean women?
2. What are some potential health problems mentioned in the article that may arise due to the societal pressure for a slim body?
3. Do you think media campaigns and education about healthy bodies can effectively counter societal pressures related to body image? Why or why not?
4. Do you think the findings in this article might apply to other countries, or do you believe it is specific to the Korean context? Why or why not?
5. What advice would you give to someone struggling with societal expectations about body weight and appearance?
