2018 Korean Society for the Study of Obesity Guideline for the Management of Obesity in Korea

TLDR

Obesity raises risks of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and mortality, prompting the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity to form a committee that reviews evidence to develop clinical guidelines. The guidelines aim to guide clinicians and patients in more effective obesity management. The 2018 guidelines were updated by analyzing National Health Insurance Service health checkup data spanning 2006 to 2015. The updated guidelines introduce a class III obesity category (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²), recommend bariatric surgery for patients with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² or BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² with comorbidities, and provide treatment algorithms for evaluation, prevention, and management of overweight and obesity.

Abstract

Obesity increases the risks of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, ultimately contributing to mortality. Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO) was established to improve the management of obesity through research and education; to that end, the Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of KSSO reviews systemic evidence using expert panels to develop clinical guidelines. The clinical practice guidelines for obesity were revised in 2018 using National Health Insurance Service Health checkup data from 2006 to 2015. Following these guidelines, we added a category, class III obesity, which includes individuals with body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2. Agreeing with the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, Asian Pacific Chapter consensus, we determined that bariatric surgery is indicated for Korean patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m2 and for Korean patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 who have comorbidities. The new guidelines focus on guiding clinicians and patients to manage obesity more effectively. Our recommendations and treatment algorithms can serve as a guide for the evaluation, prevention, and management of overweight and obesity.