The image of fit and thin Chinese young people has been challenged by new research pointing to growing problems from obesity in the country.
A paper published in the Cell Press Med journal this week said rates of obesity and being overweight among Chinese children and adolescents were approaching the same levels as the United States.
This was driving a lift in obesity-related cancers, which rose an “alarming” 3.6 percent every year between 2007 and 2021, with the increase particularly pronounced among young people.
The trend was linked to the adoption of “Westernised” lifestyles, including increased meat and alcohol consumption.
Paper author Jin-Kui Yang, from Capital Medical University in Beijing, said obesity-related cancers, such as colorectal, breast, and thyroid cancers, had been growing rapidly.
“Overweight and obesity rates among Chinese children and adolescents are approaching those of the US despite years of public health efforts focused primarily on raising awareness,” Dr Yang said.
“These strategies have not been sufficient. Moving forward, we urgently need more effective and aggressive approaches, possibly including medications and calorie labelling, to reduce obesity in the country.”
Dr Yang and his team analysed all newly diagnosed cancers in China between 2007 and 2021.
During this period, the country recorded more than 651,000 cancer cases, with about 48 percent identified as obesity-related cancers.
“The trend is consistent with the growing overweight and obesity rates among young people in China,” Dr Yang says.
As of 2019, 34 percent of Chinese adults were overweight, and 16 percent were classified as obese.
