The Korea Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO) said Thursday they have successfully finished the 10th-anniversary commemoration of the signing of the “Seoul Declaration,” with their respective partners.

The Seoul Declaration is a consensus among 11 countries announced on February 7, 2007, to raise awareness of obesity and related disorders through the fourth Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity (AOCO). The declaration recognizes that obesity is a major illness that threatens the health and potentially the life of Asians and Oceanians.

Keynote speakers and KSSO members pose for a commemorative photo at the ceremony celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Seoul Declaration at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul Thursday.

The latest event was held by the KSSO as part of the Third International Congress on Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (ICOMES), which runs through Sept. 3.

During the event, obesity experts from six nations – Korea, Japan, New Zealand, the Phillippines, Malaysia and Australia – discussed efforts, programs and policies to fight obesity.

The experts also presented successful cases and laid out further plans and goals.

They stressed the importance of governmental involvement in preventing and handling the obesity issue.

“10 years ago, we announced the ‘Seoul Deceleration’ transcending all nationalities and uniting in recognizing that obesity is a problem that everybody living in the modern society has to solve,” said Lee Kee-hyoung, President of KSSO. “I hope that the declaration made 10 years ago can be reiterated to make an obesity-free Korea.”

Meanwhile, KSSO released the 2017 Obesity Fact Sheet, with data provided by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

The booklet outlined contemporary aspects of obesity, such as obesity and socioeconomic status and illnesses regularly associated with obesity such as hypertension.

KSSO also agreed with other members in that the government needs to play a more direct role in countering obesity problems.

“Governmental policies are not properly working as government officials’ tasks frequently change,” said Yoo Soon-jib, Chairman of KSSO. “To resolve this issue, an independent control tower is needed.”

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