China tackles growing obesity crisis with first national diagnosis guidelines

China’s National Health Commission (NHC) has unveiled its first comprehensive guidelines to combat the escalating public health issue. Released on October 17, these guidelines aim to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of obesity, addressing a problem that now affects over half of the country’s adult population.

The NHC warns that, without intervention, 65.3% of China’s population could be overweight or obese by 2030.

“Obesity has become a major public health issue in China, ranking as the sixth leading risk factor for death and disability in the country,” the guidelines state. The country’s rapid modernization and economic shifts have contributed to the problem. More desk-bound jobs, rising stress levels, long work hours, and increasingly unhealthy, cost-effective diets are driving the trend in urban areas, while rural regions face inadequate healthcare and less physically demanding work, exacerbating the situation.

The guidelines provide a roadmap for addressing the issue through clinical nutrition, surgical treatment, behavioral intervention, and exercise. Zhang Zhongtao, director of the drafting committee, emphasized the importance of a multifaceted approach in a report to Xinhua, highlighting the need for both medical and lifestyle interventions.

This move is part of a broader public health campaign launched by the NHC and 15 other government departments in July. The initiative includes awareness efforts built around slogans like “lifelong commitment” and “family action,” urging citizens to adopt healthier habits. Schools have also received guidelines promoting regular screenings, daily exercise, and reduced salt, oil, and sugar intake.

According to Xinhua, obesity in China is an “unintended consequence of improving living standards” following decades of food scarcity. The new measures represent the government’s determined response to a crisis that, while linked to progress, now threatens public health on a national scale.