{
  "id": 1439717,
  "title": "1 in 5 normal-weight Korean women see themselves as obese",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/1-in-5-normal-weight-korean-women-see-themselves-as-obese",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-17T07:07:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20260817/1-in-5-normal-weight-korean-women-see-themselves-as-obese"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent survey by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity reveals that nearly one in five normal-weight Korean women perceive themselves as obese. Conducted between 2022 and 2024, the research indicates that 18.9% of women aged 20 or older with a normal body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9 believe they fall into the obese category. This figure is significantly higher than among normal-weight men, where only 4.1% perceive themselves as obese.\n\nThe Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which provided the data for this study, defines obesity using the BMI scale. Pre-obesity is classified as a BMI between 23 and 24.9, stage 1 obesity as 25 to 29.9, stage 2 as 30 to 34.9, and stage 3 as a BMI of 25 or higher. Among women identified as pre-obese, the self-perceived obesity rate is alarmingly high.",
  "summary": "Nearly two in 10 normal-weight Korean women perceive themselves as obese, according to a recent survey. The findings are raising concerns over the use of increasingly popular injectable weight-loss drugs among people who are not obese. According to a survey by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO), Monday, 18.9 percent of normal-weight women aged 20 or older perceived themselves as…",
  "key_points": [
    "18.9% of normal-weight Korean women see themselves as obese.",
    "Survey conducted between 2022 and 2024 by Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.",
    "Prevalence of self-perceived obesity higher in women than men."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The disparity in self-perceived obesity rates between normal-weight Korean women and men reveals a significant gender gap in body image perception, with women more likely to misclassify their own weight status.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "1 in 5 normal-weight Korean women see themselves as obese",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/1-in-5-normal-weight-korean-women-see-themselves-as-obese-1444943",
        "published": "2026-08-17T07:47:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}