Obesity in China

Reports in 2002 and 2012 have revealed a direct correlation between ownership of motorized transport by households in China and increasing obesity related problems in children and adults.

"[1] According to Wang Longde, Chinese Vice Minister of Health, the problem is that the population does not have enough awareness and lacks knowledge of nutrition and what constitutes a reasonable diet.

[7] The government is attempting to reduce the problem with building more playgrounds and passing a law which requires students to exercise or play sports for an hour a day at school.

[1] Chen Chunming, an expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has warned against the rapid growth of American fast-food outlets in China saying, "Don't take children to eat fast food like McDonald's and KFC.

These figures were expected to double within a decade, with doctors warning that obesity could become China's biggest health threat for future generations.

With growing incomes in Chinese society, families are now able to afford these unhealthy but highly desired foods resulting in increasing rates of consumption of high-fat diets.

Additionally, the Chinese government is currently mandating programs in schools to deal with the growing problem of obesity in the younger generations.

The rapid growing market of fast food chains is a huge contributor to the increase in obesity rates in China.