Relationship between Abdominal Obesity and Prevalence of Other Chronic Diseases in Korean Adults: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016 to 2020

Background: The burden of disease caused by obesity is high worldwide, and the rate of obesity among adult men in Korea is increasing rapidly. Previous studies have shown that people with abdominal obesity have a higher risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the association between abdominal obesity and the risk of chronic diseases among Korean adults.Methods: Using raw data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2020, adults over 19 years of age were selected as research subjects. A chi square independence test was conducted to investigate the basic demographic characteristics of patients with abdominal obesity and the prevalence of chronic diseases. The relationship between abdominal obesity and each chronic disease was verified using multiple logistic regression analysis that adjusted for multiple chronic diseases.Results: The risk of all chronic diseases was higher in the abdominal obesity group than in the non-abdominal obese group. When multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with adjustments for age, gender, education level, income level, smoking, alcohol use and multiple chronic disease, the risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and arthritis was higher in the abdominal obesity group.Conclusions: Abdominal obesity is related to chronic diseases. The management and prevention of abdominal obesity should be emphasized to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.