Fast food, automobiles, television and obesity epidemic in Chinese children.

摘要

Childhood obesity shows an alarming increase in prevalence in China in recent years [1-3]. Owing to the efficient advertisements of such fast food restaurants as McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut, the Chinese children are devouring the Western fast food faster than ever [1,3,4]. On the basis of an eight-province survey, the fat intake of urban Chinese boys aged 12-15 years rose from about 17% of their total energy intake in 1989 to nearly 30% in 1993 .On the other hand, decreased physical activity also plays an important role . People, young and old, in China used to ride bicycles but now travel in automobiles . With increased motorization and continued economic growth, it is predicted that, within two decades, China would surpass the United States as the world's biggest automobile market . Although such a rapid growth will bring further prosperity to China, it also will present its social, environmental, economic and, last but not the least, healthcare systems with serious challenges. As the Chinese rely more on automobiles and less on bicycles, they no longer derive the health benefits from bicycling. It is indeed sad news that Shanghai is contemplating on banning bicycles from all major roads to ease congestion brought on by a wave of private car ownership (personal communication, Penny Murphy, Editor, World Update, BBC News, May 20, 2004). No wonder coronary artery disease in China has climbed from the fifth commonest form of heart disease in 1948-1957 to the most common in 1980-1989 where it remains till the present day .