A Study on the Relationship among Obesity, Suicide Plans, and Suicide Attempts: The 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Background: This study explores the correlation among obesity, suicide plans, and suicide attempts in adults over 19 years of age in South Korea. Methods: The study used data from adults who had participated in the 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Obesity was defined as having a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m 2. To identify differences between the characteristics of those who had reported suicide plans and attempts, a complex sample chi-square test was conducted. To analyze the effect of obesity on suicide plans and attempts, a logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: There was no significant difference in the rate of suicide plans in one year between obese and non-obese groups; however, the rate of actual suicide attempts was significantly high in the obese group (p<0.050). After correcting for variables that were significantly different between the groups, obesity was found to have no significant effect on suicide plans but was linked to a significant increase in suicide attempts (odds ratio=3.355, p=0.008). Conclusion: Obesity was found to have no effect on the suicide planning rate; however, the probability of a suicide attempt was high in obese adults.

Effects of a web-based education for community mental health case managers on physical healthcare for clients with severe mental illness

“…People who experience severe mental illness have a shorter life expectancy than the general population [1] – [3] . Death due to suicide accounts for a high proportion of the short life expectancy of people with mental illness, but physical diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases are also cited as causes [4] – [5] . Sixty-five percent of patients with schizophrenia have one or more chronic physical diseases [6] .…”