Chinese Scientists Reveal: 50% of Adults Obese, Dietary Patterns Trigger Health Crisis

Chinese scientists have proposed a regionally specific dietary pattern that they stress is essential to improve the eating habits of the country's population and an effective way to preserve natural and environmental resources amid the rising prevalence of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.

Last October, China issued its first standardized guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity. More than half of China's adult population is already overweight or obese, and this trend is expected to continue to grow. The Government has made it clear that a healthy diet is important for the treatment and prevention of obesity.

The team at Sun Yat-sen University's School of Public Health in the economically prosperous southern city of Guangzhou noted that their study followed the principles of a "healthy diet for the planet" and advocated reducing the intake of dairy products and red meat.

The study was published in August in the journal Nature Food and reported by state media last week. The study suggests that residents in northern China, where dairy consumption is high and vegetable intake is low, should increase their intake of fruits and whole grains.

The study also pointed out that in southwest China, where environmental conditions are harsher and water resources are extremely scarce, the region should focus on increasing the intake of beans and vegetables, rather than the current high consumption of red meat.

In the eastern region, where agricultural culture is rich and aquaculture is developed, residents are advised to increase their intake of whole grains, seafood and vegetables.

China's health commission has not yet responded to queries.

Yan Liu, one of the co-authors of the study, said that the recommended dietary pattern helps prevent obesity and cardiac metabolic diseases, adding that it helps reduce the risk of early death and disability, while ensuring that residents' nutritional needs are met.

In their study, the scientists suggested that not only China, but also other developing countries facing similar health and environmental challenges could benefit from this dietary pattern.

Brent Loken, chief scientist for global food at the World Wildlife Fund, said the study offered a promising path forward for developing countries, including India and Kenya.

"Adopting these variants of the global healthy diet can serve as a viable strategy for the transformation of the Chinese diet to achieve the goals of human health and environmental sustainability... Our lessons can be replicated in other countries."