A poster for the seminar exploring the challenges and opportunities in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity in China. [Photo courtesy of UNICEF China]

A seminar exploring the challenges and opportunities in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity in China took place in Beijing on Tuesday. The event was co-organized by the School of Public Health (SPH) at Peking University and UNICEF China.

Over the last four decades, the global prevalence of childhood obesity has surged from less than 1% to 10%, emerging as a prominent public health concern. The rapid increase in childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity (OAO) in China has also created significant health and economic impacts. 

A research paper published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific reveals that, without intervention China will experience 3.3 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due its current levels of child and adolescent OAO and a lifetime economic impact of 218 trillion yuan ($31.6 trillion), or a lifetime 2.5 million yuan loss per affected child or adolescent. The research was co-conducted by the SPH and UNICEF China, as well as relevant research institutions.

The impact of childhood obesity on health is multifaceted, encompassing the nervous, digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, urinary and musculoskeletal systems, as well as mental health, noted co-researcher Zhang Man from Peking University. 

In order to select effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, the SPH and UNICEF China studied and analyzed the cost-effectiveness of childhood obesity intervention. They identified five intervention measures: 20% excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages, restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children and adolescents, e-health breastfeeding promotion through text messages to pregnant women, combined school-based interventions, and nutrition counselling by physicians. 

The researchers' model shows that national implementation of all five interventions would avert 179.4 million DALYs and result in 13.1 trillion yuan of benefits over the model cohort’s lifetime. Implementing fiscal and regulatory policies would have the strongest return on investment, with benefits accruing at least 10 years after implementation. 

As early as 2020, six departments including the National Health Commission and the Ministry of Education jointly issued a plan to prevent and control childhood and adolescent obesity. The goal was set to reduce the average annual growth of overweight and obese children and adolescents by 70% from a baseline in the next decade.

Additionally, a roundtable was held during the seminar to shed light on the specific dangers of childhood and adolescent obesity as well as targeted measures to address the issue.

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