Childhood Obesity in China

Abstract

In the context of globalization, economic reforms, and urbanization, China is experiencing a nutrition transition, a trend referring to shifts in dietary and physical activity patterns. In recent decades, the prevalence of childhood obesity increased dramatically and became a public health concern. Childhood obesity has multiple drivers, and the increasing rate reflects the changing food system, economic growth, and changes to dietary and physical activity patterns. Moreover, it becomes more complex when considering the disparities between urban and rural regions of China. Despite rural children have a lower prevalence in obesity than their urban counterparts, they are experiencing a higher rate of increase indicating a potential explosion. Effective interventions should be comprehensive, addressing both dietary and physical activity patterns and health education in both rural and urban areas. Furthermore, a whole-system intervention approach is suggested, which needs efforts of schools, communities, and families.