Childhood obesity accelerating

One in four Chinese children age 7 or above will be obese in 2030, according to a report issued by Peking University’s School of Public Health and other organizations’ forecasts.

The Report on Childhood Obesity in China predicted that the prevalence of overweight and obese students aged 7 to 18 will reach 28 percent in 2030 without intervention.

The report, developed from data collected in nine cities, showed that in 2014, 28.2 percent of boys and girls aged 7 to 18 were overweight while 16.4 percent were obese by standards adopted by the United Nations.

While genetics play an important role, the rapid growth of obesity in the last decade was mainly caused by behavioral and environmental factors, including changes in consumption and the food supply, as well as in physical activity, the report said. (Photo 1)

1