Synthesis and implications: C hina's nutrition transition in the context of changes across other low‐ and middle‐income countries

Summary The China H ealth and N utrition S urvey ( CHNS ) is important for its insights into current and future diet, physical activity, and obesity‐related changes in C hina and for understanding underlying processes common across low‐ and middle‐income countries ( LMIC s). While C hina modernized later than Latin American countries, many changes seen in C hina echo those in L atin A merica and in other LMIC s. In general, changes in physical activity and diet behaviours in C hina have occurred at a faster pace relative to other LMIC s. Modernization of the overall C hinese food system has lagged behind most other LMIC s, yet the now‐rapid changes in the C hinese food system are similar to what has been seen in other LMIC s. Further, there is variation in these changes across social and geographic space. The incidence of obesity and non‐communicable diseases has increased as the major health burden has shifted towards the poor. This paper examines changes in C hina and addresses the literature and issues that link these changes with those in other LMIC s. In many ways, the detailed 20‐year CHNS , with nine repeated measures, provides a remarkable window through which to understand nutrition‐related changes in other LMIC s.