A study published in the August 2008 issue of Health Affairs reports that 25 percent of adults in China are obese or overweight.Health News Today: More Than 25 Percent Of Chinese Adults Are Overweight Or Obese (July 8, 2008)
The study found that the number of obese women in China doubled since 1989, while the number of obese men tripled in the same amount of time.Bloomberg: Obesity in China Doubled in 11 Years With Rising Prosperity (July 8, 2008)
Increasing Prosperity to Blame
The study blames increasing prosperity and a growing middle class in China for the sharp increase in obesity levels. Specifically, it cites an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, increased ownership of cars, mechanized agriculture and a shift to a more Western diet as contributing factors.Health News Today: More Than 25 Percent Of Chinese Adults Are Overweight Or Obese (July 8, 2008)