A new report shows that the rate of malnutrition among Chinese
children has dropped as family incomes have increased, but the
children haven't become healthier.
The report by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and
Prevention indicates that rising family income has had a big impact
on children's diet and lifestyle.
The report, based on a survey covering 57,437 students aged
between 6 and 17 in both urban and rural areas, shows that the
malnutrition rate for children of families with a monthly income of
less than 800 yuan (about 104 US dollars) is 70 percent higher that
for children from families with a monthly income of more than
10,000 yuan (nearly 1,300 US dollars).
In addition, children in high income families are more likely to
engage in regular physical exercise than those from families with
lower incomes.
Despite this, children from wealthy families are not healthier
than those from poorer families, according to the report.
The proportion of overweight children is 2.6 times higher in
families with a monthly income of over 10,000 yuan than in families
with a monthly income of less than 800 yuan.
The rate of obesity in the richest group is 3.6 times higher
than the poorest group. The higher overweight and obesity rates
increase the chances of chronic diseases.
It is also reported that children whose parents earn
comparatively high salaries spend more hours in the classroom,
watching TV and playing computer games, but do not get enough
sleep.
More than 73 percent of children from the richest families lack
sleep. Urban children sleep less than rural children, according to
the report.
Ma Guansheng, a researcher with the Chinese Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, said that if no effective measures are
taken, the health picture for Chinese children will darken, with
problems of malnutrition among children in poor families coexisting
alongside a high incidence of chronic diseases among children in
rich families.
Hu Xiaoqi, another researcher, said a system to monitor the
nutrition and health condition of Chinese children should be set up
to conduct regular investigations.
(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2007)