‘정상 체중’ 여성 5명 중 1명 “살찐 거 같아요”…비만 인식 괴리 커

Among five Korean women with normal weight, one perceived herself as overweight, according to data from the National Committee on Obesity. The analysis from the Health, Food and Nutrition Information Service (2022-2024) found that 18.9% of normal-weight women thought they were overweight. This study examined adults aged 20 and older.

Women were more likely to perceive themselves as overweight compared to men at the same BMI. Normal-weight men only accounted for 4.1% of those who thought they were overweight, while 66.9% of overweight women felt the same. Just 0.6% of underweight women perceived themselves as overweight. Age also played a role, with the percentage of normal-weight women who thought they were overweight decreasing from 15.7% in the 20-39 age range to 15.1% in the 40-64 range, and further dropping to 5.8% in those 65 and older.

Even within the overweight category, younger adults aged 20-39 were more likely to see themselves as overweight (54.8%) than older adults aged 40-64 (52.6%), with only 34.4% of those 65 and older sharing that view. The concern arises that discrepancies between actual weight and perceived weight may lead to unnecessary weight loss or misuse of weight-loss drugs.

Professor Shin Hyun-young from Seoul St. Mary's Hospital's Department of Family Medicine cautioned that while medications like Orlistat (Xenical) and Mounjaro are relatively safer than other appetite suppressants, unnecessary use could lead to side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. She emphasized the importance of lifestyle modifications, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, for managing obesity, and stressed that appropriate use of medication is essential only when necessary.