Association of diabetes, obesity, and their co-occurrence with suicide ideation in Korean adults using nationally representative data from 2019 to 2021

Given the surging suicide rates in Korea, identifying the key contributing factors is crucial to mitigating associated risks. We analyzed nationally representative data from the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHPS) spanning three years (2019-21) to estimate the association of diabetes, obesity, and their co-occurrence with suicide ideation in Korean adults. After screening, a total of 32,166 eligible adults aged ≥ 19 years were included. Suicide ideation and diabetes were assessed via binary responses, whereas obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) was classified according to the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO). Multilevel-adjusted regression models and subgroup analyses were performed. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and suicide ideation was 30.5% (95% CI: 30.0-31.0%), 14.4% (95% CI: 14.0-14.8%), and 5.5% (95% CI: 5.2-5.7%), respectively. Obesity (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.31), diabetes (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.09-1.52), and co-occurrence (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04-1.61) were associated with an increased risk of suicide ideation. Diabetic (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.07-1.64), and obese females (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.21-1.74), and younger adults with obesity (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.12-1.98) exhibited higher odds of suicide ideation. This study demonstrates a strong positive link between obesity, diabetes, and their co-occurrence with suicide ideation. Recognizing the co-presence of these conditions as key contributors may be crucial in developing targeted interventions to mitigate suicide risk.