Children in China, although relatively slim are joining the growing trend throughout the world of first becoming overweight and later in their lives turning obese.

Alarming figures are now coming out into the open that obesity is becoming one of the most serious diseases threatening children in China’s larger cities, especially in the capital, Beijing. Nationwide, the figure for obese children has reached the 10 million mark.

With the current trend being most things Western, especially in the larger cities in China, children are open to an array of different cuisines. But with a lack of time continuously hovering over them, fast food becomes the easier option. And not only are they paying with their wallets, but also with their health. Since 1985 in China, the amount of overweight children has grown “double” “three fold” etc. with current figures showing “which city” as the fattest city in China. It is also displays the fact that it is the richer part of the country, the east, which is having the most problems.

Although the Western fast food diet plays a large role in Chinese children’s health today, Chinese fast food cannot be given the all clear for nutritional benefits. Chinese fast food consists of lots of sugar, oil, meat and starch – the four deadly ingredients! But how can one resist when it’s everywhere you look with its bright and wonderful colors, enticing smells and cheap prices! And of course, when you’re a child with a few RMB in your pocket, what more could you ask for!?

Many Chinese still cling to the traditional concept that affluence can be measured by the volume of food available. The more food the better and no-one wants to upset a host by leaving too much food on the table. The New China Children’s Hospital explains that children now eat less grains and vegetables, and more protein high in fat.

Obesity in China is becoming a serious issue and is a major cause of preventable death. Doctors say the health risks are real, and blame a shift in diet from traditional Chinese to Western-style fast food. In their opinion, it’s not necessary to give children of a very young age various pills to take, but in fact just control their diet and give them more vitamins. Obesity can unfortunately trigger other illnesses such as hypertension, asthma, strokes, diabetes, respiratory problems and coronary heart disease.

While most Chinese see a well-fed child as a sign of health and wealth, society as a whole can be quite intolerant of overweight people. Whilst on the outside, parents stick up for their child, on the inside they too are becoming worried of this on-set trend. What will other people think of their child, will their child be teased by other children and will they grow up constantly feeling ashamed? Another point to look at is how much money the parents must spend on the hospital and treatment. And of course whether or not they can afford the time off work to make the frequent trips to the doctor.

(CCTV.com April 5, 2005)