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Trends in Obesity and Non‐Communicable Chronic Diseases in China and Projected Future Situation for 2030
Author(s) -
Zhu Jinzhou,
Zhang Yong,
Xue Hong,
Wang Limin,
Wang Yaogang,
Wang Youfa
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.lb421
Subject(s) - overweight , obesity , medicine , china , body mass index , non communicable disease , environmental health , chronic disease , diabetes mellitus , disease , demography , gerontology , geography , endocrinology , archaeology , sociology
Background China, the world's second largest economy, has experienced rapid economic development and many social and environmental changes including people's lifestyle and disease patterns in the past 40 years. Methods Based on nationally representative data, we studied trends of obesity and non‐communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) in China and projected future situation for 2030. Results The past two decades witnessed an increase in overweight and obesity in Chinese adult (aged ≥ 18 y). During 1992–2012, based on WHO standard of body mass index (BMI)≥25, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 14.6 to 32.3%, while it increased from 20.0 to 42.0% based on Chinese standard of BMI≥24. Assuming the future trends would be similar as what observed in the past, we projected it will reach 51.2% and 61.5% in 2030 by WHO and Chinese BMI cut‐points, respectively. In school age children (7–18 y), the prevalence of obesity increased from 0.1% in 1985 to 5.0% in 2010, and will reach 9.7% by 2030. In terms of NCDs, between 1993 and 2008, the morbidity of cardiovascular diseases increased from 31.4 to 85.5‰, and will be 153.8‰ by 2030, while diabetes increased from 1.9 to 10.7‰, and will reach 22.3‰. Although the proportion of mortality attributable to major NCDs presented no remarkable change during 1990–2012, that due to malignant tumors increased from 18 to 22%, and cardio‐/cerebral‐vascular diseases increased from 27 to 36%. The proportion of respiratory diseases decreased from 21 to 12%. Alarmingly, the percentages of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and diabetes remain very low in China. The figures for hypertension were 46.5%, 41.1% and 13.8% in 2012, increased from 26.6%, 12.2%, and 2.9% in 1991. The figures for diabetes increased from 28.5%, 24.7% and 9.4% in 2000 to 36.1%, 33.4% and 11.6% in 2012. Conclusions In the past two decades China saw a steady increase in obesity and NCDs, but awareness, treatment and control of related diseases like hypertension and diabetes remain very low. Future effective national programs and policies are needed to fight the epidemic. Support or Funding Information Funding: NIH, U54HD070725