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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is associated with increased triglyceride levels. We examined whether overall obesity (body mass index (BMI)) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference (WC)) are independently associated with hypertriglyceridemia among the Korean population. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A national sample of 5036 Koreans aged 19-64 was examined with cross-sectional surveys, the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, in 2007 and 2008. BMI, WC and other lifestyle information were assessed. RESULTS: We documented 1344 cases (26.7%) of hypertriglyceridemia (fasting triglycerides of >150mg/dl). Both BMI and WC were each independently associated with hypertriglyceridemia. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) of increasing categories of BMI ( CONCLUSIONS: Both BMI and WC were strongly independently associated with hypertriglyceridemia among the population. Both measurements should be considered for use in assessing health risk at clinical settings and epidemiologic research among Asian population. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2013) 67, 83-90; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.181; published online 21 November 2012 Keywords: hypertriglyceridemia; Asian; epidemiology; abdominal obesity; body mass index, INTRODUCTION Obesity (in particular, abdominal obesity) is associated with increased triglyceride levels in blood. (1,2) Over the past several decades, South Korea has experienced rapid socioeconomic growth, producing the same [...]