What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore how lifestyle factors are linked to general and abdominal obesity in Korean adults across pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

March 30, 2026Open Access

Association between lifestyle and combined general and abdominal obesity in Korean adults during the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods: using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2020)

Key Points

This research aims to explore how lifestyle factors are linked to general and abdominal obesity in Korean adults across pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.
Analyzed data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for 2019 and 2020.
Compared demographic and lifestyle changes across two time periods, focusing on income levels.
Conducted logistic regression analysis to identify the association between lifestyle choices and obesity types.
Combined general and abdominal obesity prevalence increased during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic.
Low-income groups showed increased strength training and reduced alcohol consumption during the pandemic.
High-income groups experienced lower walking and increased breakfast skipping, linked to higher obesity rates.
In high-income individuals, factors like reduced strength training and increased perceived stress correlated with obesity.

Abstract

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced lifestyle behaviors and increased prevalence of obesity worldwide, with varying effects across socioeconomic groups. We aimed to examine the association between lifestyle and combined general and abdominal obesity between 2019 (pre-pandemic period) and 2020 (pandemic period) by income level in South Korea. Methods We used data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) in 2019 and 2020. We compared differences in demographic and lifestyle variables during pre-pandemic and pandemic period, considering income level (high and low) and obesity type (normal weight, general obesity, abdominal obesity, and combined general and abdominal obesity). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between lifestyle and combined general and abdominal obesity stratified by income level. Results The prevalence of combined general and abdominal obesity was higher during pandemic period than during pre-pandemic period. During pandemic period, the alcohol consumption in the normal-weight and high perceived stress in the abdominal obesity were lower, while strength training in the combined general and abdominal obesity was higher than during pre-pandemic period in the low-income group. In contrast, in the high-income and normal-weight groups, walking was lowered, and the skipping breakfast was higher during pandemic period than during pre-pandemic period. In the high-income group, lack of strength training, perceived stress, and excessive energy intake were associated with combined general and abdominal obesity. Conclusions These results suggest that modifiable behavioral variables such as physical activity, dietary factors, and stress were associated with combined general and abdominal obesity in high-income level during the pandemic period. Our findings underscore the importance of these variables as core strategies for obesity prevention.

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