Journal List > Korean J Nutr > v.43(4) > 1043837

Kwak, Kim, and Kim: Current Status and Improvements of Obesity Related Legislation

Abstract

Great attentions have been given to obesity in Korea, while the obesity rate has rapidly risen up due to various reasons including the dietary change into the western style. Central and local governments have tried to reduce the rate through various policies and action plans. The governments' activities are frequently criticised to be more coordinated in order to achieve the aim of the activities. The purpose of this study was to develop the coordination strategies through the examination of the acts relating to obesity. At present, activities relating to obesity are based on 25 acts including 'Health Promotion Act', 'Special Act on Children Diet Management' and so on. Six ministries including the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology are in charge of these acts. As a result, a number of areas, especially dietary guidance, research, manpower and institutions, seem to overlap. In a short term, Ministerial Council on Obesity should be established in order to enforce the coordination of the policies and activities. In the mid-long term, it is recommended that functions of the Ministries should be more simplified through the reorganization.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Classification of acts for major areas.
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Table 1
Present acts relating to obesity
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1) Ministerial Decree on Physical Examination by School Health Act, 2) Dietetic Teacher

Table 2
Main contents of health promotion act relating to obesity
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Table 3
Main contents of special act on children diet management relating to obesity
kjn-43-413-i003
Table 4
Main contents of school food service act relating to obesity
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Table 5
Main contents of school health act relating to obesity
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Table 6
Main contents of dietary education support act relating to obesity
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Table 7
Main contents of public physical promotion act relating to obesity
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Table 8
Main contents of installation and utilization of sports facilities act relating to obesity
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Table 9
Functional comparison among acts relating to obesity
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1) School health Examination Regulation by School Health Act-Ordinance

2) Although acts do not have any legal basis on dietary guidelines, they are included in that dietary guidelines are established by the ministry of health and welfare in the context of nutrition improvement activities in practice and act itself plays an key role to choose a processing food.

3) Food Sanitation Act: Dietitian, Health Promotion Act · Child Welfare Act: Public Health Center, School Meals Act: Dietetic Teacher · School Meal Service Support Centers, Dietary Education Support Act·Promotion of Food Industry Act: Education Center, Special Act on Children Diet Management : Children's Meal Service Support Centers

Table 10
Frequency of stating the term "obesity"
kjn-43-413-i010

Notes

This research was supported by the grant from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Welfares.

References

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