This Day, That Year

Item from Jan 13, 1982, in China Daily: Farmers of Linjiacao Brigade in Qinpu County of Shanghai rush to buy tonics, a luxury unthinkable for many before the new policy brought prosperity.

Tonics are not popular in China anymore.

Instead, people pay more attention to weight control, healthy diets, balanced nutrition as well as keeping fit.

Like in other developing countries, many people have become overweight in China in recent years due to poor eating habits.

Globally, the number of overweight and obese children under age 5 has reached 42 million, according to the World Health Organization.

The growth rate of this group in developing countries is 30 percent higher than in developed countries, the WHO said in October.

Food that is heavy in fat and sugar, such as fast food and carbonated beverages, is frequently consumed by people in developing countries.

At the same time, a growing prevalence of video games and cars has limited the time most people spend on physical activity.

Recent studies showed that more than 80 percent of Chinese are not having a healthy breakfast. Children, women and people living in poverty-stricken areas are more likely to not have a nutritious breakfast, they said.

The central government’s Healthy China 2030 plan has a goal of increasing the average Chinese life expectancy to 79 years, and achieving the same health outcomes as rich countries by 2030.