The United States is the not the only country in the world that is dealing with a serious epidemic of Obesity. China, the world’s largest country in population, is finding that about 25 percent of their adult population is considered overweight or obese. The rate of this trend is growing at a rapid rate with more and more people moving to a western diet and the declining physical activity in their lives. The obesity rates in China are expected to double by 2028 if there are no efforts made to address the problem.

The recent study on the issue in China and India focuses on the effect of growth and development in the economy on the public health. Not only is this study predicting what could happen to China over the next twenty years, but it could also be predicting a frightening trend around the world if there are no means to act upon the situation. If this problem is ignored any longer, the rates of disease, disability and death will increase dramatically.

The rate of increase in becoming overweight among adults in China is greater than in all developing countries except Mexico. The rate of change in China is also larger than the United States, where two thirds of the population is considered overweight or obese. The Health and Nutrition Survey found that about 1.2 percent of Chinese adult males where becoming overweight or obese each year for the past decade.

There are numerous reasons for a person to avoid being overweight as many health problems can arise from carrying the extra weight. China is experiencing the largest increase in nutrition related causes of death which include Cancer and coronary heart disease. The deaths from poor diets have increased by more than 20% in the last decade.

What has spurred this change in diet? An increase of the use of edible oil in their diet. This has lead to a greater consumption of foods that are from animal sources, such as beef, pork, poultry, and eggs and due to the movement to eat animal based products there has been a decline in consuming vegetables and other healthy foods. Supermarkets are also popping up all throughout the country introducing cheap processed foods that were not once used to in their typical diets.

Physically demanding occupations in China, such as farming, are also on the decline giving rise to a population that is less physically active in their daily lives. The reliance on vehicles may also to blame. Those who bought a car in the last two decades have also seen the weight of the household increase. Along with that, television has made the country more sedentary as well.

To combat the problem of obesity in China, the health minister is currently looking into additional programs that will benefit the overall health of the country.