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One out of every three Korean adults was classified as obese as of last year. And the problem appears to be more serious among men in their 30s, as more than half of that group was classified as obese, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Wednesday.

The agency announced the results of its analysis of the obesity rate reports submitted by each local government.

The obesity rate refers to the ratio of people with a BMI (body mass index) over 25, and includes those classified as overweight, obese and extremely obese. BMI is defined as body mass divided by the square of a person's height.

The obesity rate for all adults last year stood at 32.5 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from 2021.

The figure, which had fluctuated until 2020, increased since 2021 mainly due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic that largely restricted people's physical activities.

By age group, the rate for those in their 30s was the highest at 35.8 percent, followed by 34.1 percent for those in their 40s and 31.5 percent for those in their 50s.

By gender, 40.2 percent of men were classified as obese, compared to 22.1 percent of women.

Notably, the rate for men in their 30s was tallied at 51.4 percent, meaning that more than half of that group was considered obese.

Men in their 30s registered a higher obesity rate because they had less time for exercise and usually sit for long periods at work, compared to those in their 20s, according to the KDCA.

The obesity rate for females tended to increase as they get older, standing at 15.5 percent for women in their 20s, 19 percent for those in their 30s, 19.7 percent for those in their 40s, 22.7 percent for those in their 50s, 27.6 percent for those in their 60s and 30.6 percent for those in their 70s.

By region, the rate was the highest on Jeju Island at 36.5 percent, and the lowest in Sejong City at 27.5 percent.

Thirteen out of 17 cities and provinces across the country had a higher obesity rate compared to the previous year, with Ulsan reporting the largest increase of 2.4 percentage points to 33.4 percent.

Based on the latest findings, the KDCA will carry out an in-depth research to establish the cause of the increasing obesity rate in the country.

“Not many people are aware of the risk of obesity, but it could develop into critical diseases,” KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee said. “People should stay alert and take care of their bodies consistently by having a healthy diet and exercising regularly.”