SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Koreans are shifting from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes, contributing to a steady increase in overall smoking rates over the past three years. Alcohol consumption is also rebounding after a pandemic-induced decline, while obesity rates continue to rise despite increased physical activity.
A nationwide survey by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) of 230,000 adults at 258 public health centers revealed these significant behavioral trends.
The overall usage of tobacco products, including traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes, rose to 22.6 percent this year, up 0.4 percentage points from last year. Tobacco usage had slowed during the pandemic but has been climbing since 2022. Among men, the usage rate slightly declined to 39.7 percent, while among women, it increased to 5.2 percent.
Traditional cigarette smoking dropped to 18.9 percent, a 1.4 percentage point decrease from last year, continuing its steady decline. In contrast, the use of liquid and heated e-cigarettes rose to 8.7 percent, marking a 0.6 percentage point increase.
Alcohol consumption has also surged since the country eased COVID-19 restrictions in 2022. The monthly drinking rate—defined as consuming alcohol at least once a month—rose to 58.3 percent, a 0.3 percentage point increase.
However, high-risk drinking, defined as consuming large amounts of alcohol at least twice a week (7 or more drinks per session for men, 5 or more for women), declined to 12.6 percent, a 0.6 percentage point decrease.
Despite rising physical activity levels, obesity rates have continued to climb, indicating other factors influencing the trend.
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