Increase in Chronic Diseases Despite Recovery from COVID-19 Pandemic

News by 2FIRSTS.ai
Dec.12.2023
Increase in Chronic Diseases Despite Recovery from COVID-19 Pandemic
According to Naver on December 7, after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, the proportion of chronic diseases such as overeating, obesity, and hypertension has increased.

According to a report by Naver on December 7th, despite the resumption of daily life and improvements in sports activities in South Korea after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as binge eating, obesity, and hypertension.

 

The "National Health and Nutrition Survey" is a survey conducted in accordance with the National Health Promotion Law, targeting individuals with an annual income of over 10,000 yuan. It covers over 250 public health indicators, including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, nutrition, and chronic diseases.

 

The results indicate that although smoking rates have slightly declined in 2021, alcohol consumption rates have once again risen. Moreover, both men and women have shown an increase in participation in physical activities compared to last year.

 

The smoking rate among men last year was 36.6%, while it was 7.2% among women. The smoking rate for men remained the same as the previous year, while it decreased by 1.3 percentage points for women. Currently, the prevalence of smoking among men is 30%, while it is 5% among women, representing a decrease of 1.3 and 1.9 percentage points respectively compared to the previous year.

 

The smoking rate for vaping has seen a slight increase compared to last year, with 5.6% of men and 1.3% of women engaging in this activity. Additionally, there has been a growth in the use of heated tobacco products in the form of e-cigarettes (HNB products) as well. Among men, the usage rate has reached 9.2%, while for women it stands at 2.4%.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Tennessee’s “Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act” Would Require New Licenses for Tobacco and Vapes
Tennessee’s “Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act” Would Require New Licenses for Tobacco and Vapes
A newly introduced Tennessee bill, S.B. 2086, would create a statewide tobacco product retail licensing system, move oversight to the Tennessee Alcohol Commission, and impose fees and escalating penalties. The proposal also requires all tobacco product sales to occur as in-person, over-the-counter transactions at licensed locations—effectively banning direct-to-consumer shipping of cigars and potentially restricting curbside or phone-order pickup models.
Jan.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
JTI appoints Olesja Flores as General Manager for Global Travel Retail
JTI appoints Olesja Flores as General Manager for Global Travel Retail
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has appointed veteran executive Olesja Flores as General Manager, Global Travel Retail. Flores, who has spent more than 25 years at JTI and most recently served as General Manager for the Swiss market, will be based in Dubai and oversee the company’s global travel retail business.
Jan.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Phnom Penh “Mystery House” raided: authorities seize over 300,000 smoking devices and related items
Phnom Penh “Mystery House” raided: authorities seize over 300,000 smoking devices and related items
A Phnom Penh venue selling electronic smoking devices — nicknamed the “Mystery House” — was raided on the night of January 15, 2026, with authorities seizing over 300,000 items and arresting the 58-year-old owner. Seized evidence included smoking machines, cigarette heads, bottles of vape juice and marijuana grinding machines.
Jan.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
France’s ANSES warns vaping carries health risks, urges limiting e-cigarette use to smoking cessation
France’s ANSES warns vaping carries health risks, urges limiting e-cigarette use to smoking cessation
France’s National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) says vaping poses health risks because users inhale toxic or harmful substances, even if e-cigarettes are generally considered less harmful than cigarettes.
Feb.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | 22ml Combined E-Liquid Supply, Rated for 35,000 Puffs: OXBAR Launches the OX35K Open-System Pod Device
Product | 22ml Combined E-Liquid Supply, Rated for 35,000 Puffs: OXBAR Launches the OX35K Open-System Pod Device
The vaping brand OXBAR has recently listed its open-system, refillable pod device OX35K on its official website. The product features a “2ml built-in pod + two 10ml external refill bottles” e-liquid supply structure and supports top refilling, with a claimed puff count of up to 35,000. It is equipped with a 1000mAh built-in battery and offers dual power modes—BOOST and ECO—positioning the device to balance high-puff performance with an open-system form factor.
Jan.13 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | “Prefilled + Refill” Combo, Up to 30,000 Puffs Claimed: DOJO BLAST 30K PRO Launches in the UK and France
Product | “Prefilled + Refill” Combo, Up to 30,000 Puffs Claimed: DOJO BLAST 30K PRO Launches in the UK and France
DOJO has launched the upgraded BLAST 30K PRO on its official website. The device features a (2+8) ml ×2 “2 ml prefilled pod + 8 ml refill” configuration, delivering 20 ml of e-liquid per kit and claiming up to 30,000 puffs. It is also labeled as fully compatible with BLAST 10K Pods.
Jan.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai