There are many Koreans who receive a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension despite having a normal body weight. Experts cite abdominal visceral fat as one of the causes. Research indicates that East Asians, including Koreans, have a relatively high risk of metabolic diseases because they tend to have a higher proportion of abdominal visceral fat even when their body mass index (BMI) is within the normal range.

Visceral fat is fat that accumulates between organs. Unlike subcutaneous fat, it is known to secrete various inflammatory substances and increase insulin resistance, thereby raising the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

In particular, a steady stream of research has found that East Asians have a higher proportion of abdominal visceral fat than Westerners, which leads to a relatively higher risk of metabolic diseases even when their BMI is in the normal range.

Results of an obesity treatment study targeting East Asians that reflected these characteristics have also been published.

According to the STEP 6 clinical study conducted on 437 East Asians, including Koreans and Japanese, administration of Wegovy (ingredient name: semaglutide) 2.4 mg for 68 weeks reduced abdominal visceral fat area by an average of 40% compared with the placebo group. In absolute terms, it decreased by 65.5 ㎠, and waist circumference fell by an average of 11.6 cm. Metabolic indicators such as blood pressure and blood glucose levels also improved. The researchers explained that a reduction in visceral fat can lead to improvements in metabolic health.

The study also found that loss of muscle mass, a common concern during weight reduction, was not significant.

In the SEMALEAN study, in which Wegovy was administered for 12 months, body fat mass decreased by up to 18%, while muscle mass was relatively well maintained. Grip strength improved by an average of 4.1 kgf, and the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity declined from 49% to 33%. The researchers stated that muscle function improved alongside weight reduction.

Experts note that obesity treatment has recently been shifting away from simply reducing the number on the scale toward an approach that concurrently considers visceral fat reduction, improvements in metabolic health, and preservation of muscle function.

A representative of Novo Nordisk Korea said, “The goal of obesity treatment is moving beyond simple weight loss toward quality weight loss,” adding, “For East Asians, who are particularly vulnerable to visceral fat accumulation, it is important to manage not only weight but also waist circumference and metabolic health indicators together.”

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