Some 35.4 percent of adults aged 19 and older were classified as obese in 2025, up from 27.9 percent in 2016, while the proportion of underweight adults fell from 5.2 percent to 4.2 percent over the same period.
Obesity was particularly prevalent among men in their 30s and 40s, with more than half in these age groups classified as obese at rates reaching 52.1 percent and 53.1 percent, respectively.
Young adults in their 20s also saw a sharp rise in obesity rates. Among men, the rate increased from 29.7 percent in 2016 to 42.6 percent in 2025. For women, it rose from 10.2 percent to 16.4 percent over the same period.
The gender gap was also evident, with 42.5 percent of men classified as obese, compared with 22.9 percent of women.
By region, the country's southern industrial city of Ulsan had the highest obesity rate at 38.2 percent, ahead of South Jeolla Province at 38 percent and Gangwon Province at 37.4 percent. The lowest rates were in the administrative city of Sejong (29.4 percent), Daejeon (29.8 percent) and Seoul (30.2 percent).
People in areas with higher obesity rates tended to earn less and exercise less often, and they were considerably more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes.
The KDCA said people who did not regularly engage in muscle-strengthening exercises were 1.28 times more likely to be obese. Other factors associated with obesity included getting six hours or less of sleep, skipping breakfast, not walking regularly and drinking alcohol.
"The latest findings show that obesity rates continue to rise nationwide, particularly among men in their 30s and 40s and young adults," KDCA chief Lim Seung-kwan said. "Obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, making regular physical activity important for maintaining good health," he added.
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