NHIS discusses obesity prevention and management policies, seeks to strengthen care for children and adolescents

[Financial News] The National Health Insurance Service is discussing ways to make obesity prevention and management policies more effective at each stage of life. 
The NHIS said on the 21st that it will hold a session on directions for advancing obesity prevention and management policies at the 2026 Autumn Conference of the Korean Society for Preventive Medicine, which will take place on the 22nd at the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center.
The session, titled “Korea’s Obesity Problem and Life-Course Responses: Supporting Child and Adolescent Care and Healthy Lifestyle Practices,” will feature three presentations and a discussion, with Kim Ji-young, head of the Health Insurance Research Institute, serving as moderator. Key agenda items include developing programs that turn student health screening results into practical health management and improving systems that support healthy lifestyle practices.
Lee Seon-mi, head of the Health Insurance Policy Research Office, will examine the current state of obesity in Korea and its socioeconomic impact, and present future policy directions. Kang Ha-ryeom, head of the Health Policy Research Center, will present directions for developing obesity management programs for children and adolescents that link student health screening results to follow-up care.
Kang Su-hyeon, a deputy research fellow at the Health Policy Research Center, will assess the operational results of the Healthy Lifestyle Practice Incentive Program pilot project and introduce ways to improve the system to encourage the public to maintain healthy lifestyle practices.
The discussion will include Professor Jo Min-woo of the University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Professor Kim Hyeong-su of Konkuk University College of Medicine, and Professor Jang Yeong-su of the Department of Medicine at Soonchunhyang University. Participants will discuss early management of obesity in childhood and adolescence and stronger follow-up care after health screenings, support and reward systems to help people sustain healthy behaviors, and ways to link obesity prevention and management services.
Kim Ji-young, head of the Health Insurance Research Institute, said, “It is meaningful to discuss with academia the work needed to translate research findings on obesity into practical projects and policies,” adding, “We will work to ensure that prevention-focused health management policies deliver tangible results in people’s lives.”

[email protected] Jeong Sang-hui Reporter