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Seoul recorded the largest decline in its adult obesity rate among the country’s 17 metropolitan cities and provinces last year
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 29th, the city’s adult obesity rate stood at 30.2% last year, down 0.8 percentage points from 31.0% in 2024. Seoul’s obesity rate was the third lowest, following Sejong at 29.4% and Daejeon at 29.8%, while its decline was the steepest among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide. Over the same period, the national obesity rate rose 1.0 percentage point. The city said that while obesity rates are rising nationwide, Seoul has maintained top-tier levels in major health indicators.
According to the city, the walking practice rate among Seoul residents was 69.0% last year, 19.8 percentage points higher than the national average of 49.2%. The healthy lifestyle practice rate was 54.3% (national average 36.1%), and the annual weight control attempt rate was 74.5% (national average 68.5%). Seoul ranked highest among the 17 cities and provinces in all three indicators
In particular, Wrist Doctor 9988, used by 2.93 million citizens, is seen as having had a positive impact. First introduced in 2021, Wrist Doctor 9988 is Seoul’s mobile health management platform that awards points for activities such as walking, exercise, and improving eating habits. It recently surpassed 2.9 million cumulative subscribers, establishing itself as Seoul’s flagship digital healthcare project
According to a comparative analysis of National Health Insurance Service checkup data from 2021 and 2023 conducted by the city, Wrist Doctor 9988 was found to have an effect on improving metabolic syndrome-related conditions. Participants in Wrist Doctor 9988 had significantly lower incidence rates of diabetes and hypertension, both metabolic syndrome-related conditions, than non-participants. The new diabetes incidence rate among participants was 7.9% lower than among non-participants, and the new hypertension incidence rate was 9.1% lower.
In addition, participants in Wrist Doctor 9988 showed significant improvements in waist circumference and blood sugar, major risk factors for metabolic syndrome, compared to non-participants. The share of participants with normal waist circumference rose 0.4 percentage points from 91.6% in 2021 to 92.0% in 2023. Over the same period, the share of non-participants with normal readings fell 0.1 percentage points from 91.4% to 91.3%. The share with normal blood sugar levels also rose 1.2 percentage points among participants, from 73.9% to 75.1%, while it fell 0.1 percentage points among non-participants, from 72.0% to 71.9%.
The more actively users engaged with Wrist Doctor 9988, the greater the health improvement effect. The rate of improvement in weight and waist circumference among participants who accessed the Wrist Doctor 9988 app frequently (five or more times per week) was 41.9%, 19.6 percentage points higher than the 22.3% rate among participants who accessed it infrequently (two or fewer times per week)
The city said that Seoul Fitness Center, which provides exercise counseling tailored to individuals’ physical characteristics and fitness levels based on fitness assessment results, is also contributing to residents’ health management. The city operates a total of 19 Seoul Fitness Centers, including a directly run center at the University of Seoul and others in Gwangjin, Dobong, and Jung districts
The city plans to build 52 Seoul Fitness Centers across the city to create a “10-minute exercise zone” (combining exercise and neighborhood accessibility), where any resident can access scientific fitness management services within their living area
“We will expand customized health management services centered on Wrist Doctor 9988 and Seoul Fitness Center so that citizens can check their physical condition and consistently manage their health close to home and work,” said Cho Young-chang, director general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Citizens’ Health Bureau
#Seoul#ObesityRate#DigitalHealth#WristDoctor9988#PublicHealth#KoreaHealth#Wellness
Original reporting by Kim Su-ho for Seoul Economic Daily
AI-translated from Korean. Quotes from foreignxact original wording
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