#6, On Obesity

14% of Teenagers Obese

By Lee Hyo-sik (June 8th, 2011 18:43)

Fourteen of every 100 elementary and secondary school students here were found to be obese, consuming more fast food but less fruit and vegetables.

Lack of sleep and exercise has also contributed to the worsening of Korean teenagers’ health, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Wednesday.

It said 14.25 percent of those looked at were overweight or obese, up from 13.17 percent in 2009 and 11.24 percent in 2008. The ministry surveyed 188,000 elementary, middle- and high-school students across the country in 2010.

The body mass index (BMI), a measurement which compares weight and height, defines people as possibly overweight or pre-obese, if their BMI is between 25 and 30, and obese when it is greater than 30. Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat accumulates to the extent that it may have adverse effects on health. In particular, the ratio of students with a BMI over 50 rose to 1.25 percent in 2010, up from 0.56 percent in 2000.

About 16.2 percent of male high-school students were found to be either overweight or obese as their BMIs were over 20. Nearly, 2 percent of them were “extremely obese.”

In contrast, 4.72 percent of the examined students were found to be underweight last year as many female pupils went on diets to lose weight, down from 5.6 percent in 2009.

Still, parents and schools should pay more attention to prevent them from taking extreme measures to lose weight as it could also adversely affect their health, the ministry said.

The ministry also found that 63.6 percent of male high school students eat instant noodles, hamburgers and other fast foods as a meal more than once a week. But only 25.3 percent of them said they eat fruit and vegetables every day.

SOURCE: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/06/117_88564.html

The obesity rate in Korea continues its steady rise among teenagers.  Students are extremely busy juggling their work at school and academies, social relationships, and life at home...leaving them little time for physical activity.  Is there anyone to blame?  With whom does the responsibility fall to fix growing obesity issue?  What should they do?  Defend your position.

Optional: Describe how you stay fit.

-Teacher Lee