BEING OVERWEIGHT MIGHT REDUCE SUICIDE CHANCES

A RESEARCH STUDY IN SEOUL, KOREA SHOWS A RELATIONSHIP WITH OVERWEIGHT INDIVIDUALS AND REDUCED SUICIDE OUTCOMES.

A recent study conducted by endocrinologists in Korea has revealed an inverse relationship between body weight and suicide risk. According to the research, Koreans who are classified as overweight or obese demonstrate lower suicide rates compared to those of average or below-average weight.


The comprehensive study, led by researchers from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, analyzed data from over 4 million Korean adults. The researchers examined records spanning from 2009 through December 31, 2021, utilizing the National Health Insurance Service database.


The investigation took multiple factors into account, classifying subjects according to their body mass index (BMI) while also considering mental health history, chronic disease status, age, gender, and other physical conditions to establish correlations between body weight and suicide risk.

The research revealed that individuals with a BMI of 23-25 (classified as overweight by Korean standards) had a 21 percent lower suicide risk compared to those with a BMI of 18.5-22.9, which is considered the healthy weight range in Korea. This finding suggests a protective effect associated with being in the overweight category.

The data showed an even stronger protective effect for those with higher BMIs. People with class one obesity (BMI 25-29.9) demonstrated a 24 percent lower suicide risk, while those with class two obesity (BMI 30 and above) showed a 29 percent reduction in suicide risk compared to individuals in the healthy weight range.

Notably, Korean BMI classifications differ from World Health Organization standards, which define healthy weight as 18.5-24.9, overweight as 25-29.9, and obesity as 30 or higher. This distinction is important when interpreting the findings within a global context.

Particularly concerning was the discovery that underweight individuals (BMI below 18.5) faced a 44 percent higher suicide risk than those in the healthy weight range. The researchers emphasized that this inverse relationship between weight and suicide risk remained consistent regardless of whether participants had major depressive disorder or their living arrangements.

Among the possible factors behind this phenomenon is the obesity-induced leptin resistance, which the researchers noted that may have contributed to decreased impulsivity.

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