The Rate of Women Undergoing Obesity Surgery is Three Times Higher Than Men in Korea

The average age of patients undergoing obesity surgery in Korea is 36.7 years, with most patients being young adults. Notably, women are three times more likely to undergo the surgery than men.

According to the "Obesity by the Numbers" report published by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity on the 24th, a total of 2,400 people underwent metabolic surgery for obesity in 2022, with an average age of 36.7 years. Among the surgical patients, 60.9% were in their 20s and 30s, with 1,839 women and 561 men, showing that women were approximately three times more likely to undergo the surgery than men.

Types of metabolic surgeries available for individuals with morbid obesity, metabolic disorders related to obesity, or other weight-related complications include: △Sleeve Gastrectomy △Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass △Duodenal Switch △Adjustable Gastric Banding.

Among these, sleeve gastrectomy was the most commonly performed surgery in 2022, accounting for 77.4% of cases, an increase of 4.5% from 72.9% in 2019. This procedure involves reducing the stomach's area by longitudinally cutting it, thereby limiting food intake.

Common comorbidities among metabolic surgery patients included: △Hypertension (40.2%)
Dyslipidemia (36.0%) △Type 2 Diabetes (30.2%)

The average preoperative Body Mass Index (BMI) of the patients was 36.1 kg/m², which decreased to an average of 29.6 kg/m² post-surgery, representing an average reduction of 6.5 kg/m². By gender, men experienced a BMI reduction of 7.1 kg/m², while women saw a reduction of 6.2 kg/m².

The distribution of medical institutions performing these surgeries was highest in Seoul at 61.6%, followed by: △Gyeonggi Province (12.4%) △South Jeolla Province (6.9%) △Incheon (6.3%) △Daegu (3.9%) △Busan (3.1%) and other regions accounted for less than 2% each.

Insurance Coverage for Treatment Purposes, But Management Lapses
Since 2019, metabolic surgery for obesity in Korea has been covered by health insurance for patients with a BMI of 35 kg/m² or higher, or 30 kg/m² or higher with comorbidities such as hypertension or diabetes. It is also covered for patients with a BMI of 27.5 kg/m² or higher when blood sugar levels are not controlled despite medical treatment and lifestyle changes.

However, preoperative examinations, medical treatments, and related surgical costs are not covered by insurance, placing a financial burden on patients and making proactive management challenging. The lack of a systematic follow-up care system after metabolic surgery is also problematic, potentially leading to weight regain or failure to lose weight.

A domestic study revealed that 1.5 years after metabolic surgery, patients began to regain weight, and 20% experienced failure in weight reduction. Given the importance of continuous management post-surgery, experts emphasize the need for insurance coverage for post-treatment care, including exercise guidance and dietary education.

Professor Park Chul-Young, Chairman of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity and an endocrinologist at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, stated, "Despite the rising prevalence of stage 2 and 3 obesity in Korea, with rates at 5.9% and 1.9% respectively, the number of metabolic surgeries performed remains low. Proper management before and after surgery is crucial, and insurance coverage for obesity treatment is essential."