By Farah Master and Andrew Silver

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters)

As China constructs fewer houses and bridges, its consumers are opting for cheaper, less-healthy meals. Automation in factories and farms presents a new fiscal challenge: a rising obesity rate, which is expected to increase healthcare costs.

Doctors and academics note that job stress, long hours, and poor diets are contributing to this issue. In rural areas, less physically demanding agricultural work combined with inadequate healthcare is leading to insufficient screening and treatment for weight-related problems.

Amid a modernizing economy, many jobs have transitioned to static or desk-bound roles, with a prolonged growth slowdown compelling people to choose cheaper, unhealthy food options.

As infrastructure becomes more abundant, many workers are moving from construction or manufacturing jobs to driving for ride-sharing or delivery services. In a deflationary environment, unhealthy food choices are increasingly preferred. Parents are also reducing their children’s sports activities. The fast food market in China is projected to grow to 1.8 trillion yuan ($253.85 billion) by 2025, up from 892 billion yuan in 2017, according to Daxue Consulting.

Yanzhong Huang from the Council on Foreign Relations states, “Economic downturns often lead to changes in people’s lifestyles. Dietary habits may become irregular, and social activities might decrease.” He anticipates a continuing rise in obesity rates, which would place an additional burden on the healthcare system.

In July, Guo Yanhong of the National Health Commission (NHC) described obesity as a major public health issue. Xinhua reported that over half of Chinese adults are overweight or obese, surpassing the World Health Organization’s estimate of 37%.

A BMC Public Health study predicts that weight-related treatment costs may reach 22% of the health budget by 2030, escalating from 8% in 2022. This will further strain local governments and limit resources for growth.

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

In response, China’s NHC launched a three-year obesity awareness campaign with eight slogans focused on lifelong commitment, active monitoring, a balanced diet, physical activity, good sleep, reasonable targets, and family action.

Health guidelines were shared with schools, emphasizing regular screening, daily exercise, and nutrition measures to reduce salt, oil, and sugar intake. The WHO defines overweight as a BMI of 25 or higher, while obesity is defined as 30 or above.

Currently, 8% of Chinese are considered obese, which, though lower than the U.S. rate of 42%, is higher than Japan and South Korea’s rates. This problem is relatively new for China, given its history of widespread famine in the 1960s.

Christina Meyer from RTI International notes that China is experiencing an epidemiological shift from under-nutrition to diseases associated with unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.

STRUCTURAL FACTORS

As the economy evolves, many overweight individuals may reach obesity status. Jun Sung Kim suggests that economic downturns lead to increased consumption of low-quality, fast food. Furthermore, the ‘996’ work culture of extended shifts contributes to stress-eating behaviors.

The proportion of obese boys in China surged to 15.2% in 2022, up from 1.3% in 1990, trailing behind the U.S. but exceeding other countries. Obesity among girls rose to 7.7% in 2022, up from 0.6% in 1990.

Students frequently buy high-salt, high-sugar snacks near schools, leading to calls for increased government communication with food companies and enforcement of measures against junk food sales in educational settings.

($1 = 7.0908 Chinese yuan renminbi)