I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the members for your dedication to the Society over the past year despite the challenging circumstances both within and outside the medical community. For the past 32 years, the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity has been leading the advancement of obesity research and treatment in Korea, and this is all thanks to the dedication and passion of our past and present executives and members.

As you are already well aware, the number of obese people is increasing worldwide, and South Korea is no exception. According to the 2024 Obesity Fact Sheet published by our Society, 38.4% of adults in South Korea were obese in 2022, with men at 49.6% and women at 27.7%. Notably, over the past decade, the prevalence of obesity has steadily increased across all age groups, with the most significant rise seen in those in their 20s and 80s. This highlights the urgent need for prevention and treatment of obesity in both the young and elderly populations.

In the case of second-stage obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 or above, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases more than five-fold, and the incidence of metabolic diseases associated with obesity is notably higher in men. Additionally, there has been a sharp increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes among young people in their 20s and 30s due to obesity, underscoring the need to recognize obesity as a disease and to actively pursue its treatment and management. Therefore, our Society will take the lead in raising public awareness about the seriousness of obesity and advocating for the expansion of national health insurance coverage for obesity treatment.

In 2025, the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity will continue to strive to elevate ICOMES into a world-renowned academic conference on obesity, extending beyond Asia. Additionally, we will work hard to ensure that our journal, JOMES, gains greater international recognition as a prestigious academic journal. Furthermore, we will take the lead in educating the correct methods of obesity treatment through various education programs.

Through these activities, we will continue to fulfill the Society's mission of "protecting our lives from obesity by preventing and treating obesity" with our members this year, and we will do our utmost to contribute to the improvement of public health.

Wishing you all health and success in the new year, I hope to move forward together for the bright future of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity.

Thank you.

Suh, Young Sung, Chairman of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity
Kim, Min-Seon, President of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity