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Childhood Overweight and Obesity in China
Author(s) -
Lum Jessica May,
Wang May Choo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1083.1
Subject(s) - overweight , obesity , socioeconomic status , medicine , environmental health , childhood obesity , china , psychological intervention , demography , etiology , beijing , rural area , gerontology , geography , population , archaeology , psychiatry , sociology , pathology
PURPOSE: This study examines the published literature on trends, risk factors, and emerging directions for intervention regarding childhood overweight and obesity in China. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted via Pub Med with the key words “childhood overweight China” and “risk factors obesity China.” Only articles featuring ethnically Chinese children, ages 0.1–18 years, in China were used for analysis. Approximately 40 articles were reviewed in this study. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight has increased significantly in China since the late 1980s. Studies consistently report higher prevalence rates in urban versus rural areas. For example, in the capital city of Beijing, the overall prevalence of obesity in children ages 6–12 years increased from 10.9% in 1990 to 17.2% in 1993. Multiple studies also indicate that that there are higher rates in boys than in girls. Additionally, several studies report that household socioeconomic status (SES) is positively associated with BMI. Possible etiological factors that have been identified include low physical activity, parental overweight, and increasing consumption of high‐fat, Westernized diets. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed on the effects of the nutrition transition on children's health status in developing countries. With China's distinct patterns of higher rates of obesity in boys and in urban areas, cultural and environmental factors must be considered a part of the etiology. As diets become westernized, the values and norms of local communities are also influenced. These relations must be analyzed to yield the most effective interventions to counter childhood obesity.