Sweet, Salty, and Spicy Ultimately Cause Stomach Pain... The Hidden Illness Common Among MZ Generation

Number of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Increases by 32%
Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea, Weight Loss, Fatigue, etc.
Experts: "Western Diet and Instant Food Influence"

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As the trend of spicy and Westernized eating habits spreads among the MZ generation with a preference for sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, the prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is gradually increasing.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of domestic patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease rose by 32%, from 60,741 in 2017 to 80,289 in 2021. If this trend continues, the number of patients is expected to exceed 100,000 next year.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic immune disorder in which the immune system attacks the intestinal tissue, causing symptoms such as chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, weight loss, and fatigue. The disease alternates between remission and flare-ups, and if the inflammatory response accumulates, various complications such as structural changes in the intestines may occur. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum, whereas Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere along the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, making it more dangerous. Particularly, the number of patients in their teens and twenties is increasing, and experts believe that environmental factors such as frequent Western-style diets and consumption of instant foods have played a significant role.

Professor Kim Seong-eun of the Department of Gastroenterology at Ewha Mokdong Hospital explained, "Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition that also occurs in young patients, so it requires social attention," adding, "We are also sensing an increase in younger patients in clinical practice." She continued, "The earlier the onset, the more severe the symptoms are likely to be, and the prognosis is not good. Especially in younger patients, weight loss due to poor nutrient absorption may lead to growth retardation."

Although inflammatory bowel disease is classified as a rare and intractable disease and is known to be difficult to cure, stable health can be maintained through active and consistent treatment. Professor Kim emphasized, "The goal of treating inflammatory bowel disease is not only to relieve symptoms but also to heal the mucosa to prevent further intestinal damage. Ultimately, it improves the patient’s quality of life." She added, "Persistent chronic inflammation is also associated with an increased risk of cancer, so continuous and thorough inflammation treatment and management are important." Furthermore, she stated, "To overcome the difficult treatment process and maintain a good quality of life, it is important to meet medical staff with whom patients can comfortably discuss their unique personal situations."