Rising childhood obesity forces China to prioritise physical education in schools

With 20% of Chinese children aged 6-17 classified as overweight or obese, Beijing is focusing on enhancing physical activity and nutrition to protect the health of young people.

Youth obesity has surged since 2019, driven by reduced physical activity during COVID lockdowns and an increase in online junk food orders.

On Monday, the Ministry of Education, along with leading public health agencies and the General Administration of Sport, introduced national technical guidelines aimed at preventing and managing overweight and obesity in primary and middle school students.

The guidelines highlight the need for immediate action to tackle this “significant public health concern” affecting children.

Primary and secondary schools must ensure physical education teachers are treated “the same as their colleagues in subjects such as Chinese, math and English, and intensify efforts to develop key sports such as soccer, basketball and volleyball,” the official Xinhua news agency said, citing the country’s Ministry of Education.

More from World

Earthquake of magnitude 5.9 jolts Assam, tremors felt in Bhutan and north Bengal 5 US F-35 jets land in Puerto Rico amid tensions with Venezuela

“These measures are part of a broader push for a more holistic approach to education, integrating physical fitness with academic development to cultivate well rounded students who are prepared for the future,” the Ministry said.

Doctors predict that obesity will continue to rise over the next 10-12 years as the economy slows and undergoes structural changes, contributing to unhealthy eating habits and less physical activity.

The measures come after China issued its first national plan in January to build a “strong education nation” by 2035. The policies included mandating primary and secondary school students to have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control myopia, or nearsightedness and obesity rates.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

In mid-2022 there was a nationwide shortage of around 120,000 physical education teachers, with rural areas the most affected, Xinhua said, adding that the new measures would encourage the recruitment of retired athletes and military veterans to help close the gap.

Physical education teachers will receive equal compensation to their peers in other subjects, with performance based salary adjustments for after-school sports duties and team coaching, it said.

The proportion of obese boys in China jumped to 15.2% in 2022 from 1.3% in 1990, trailing the United States 22%, but higher than Japan’s 6%, Britain’s and Canada’s 12% and India’s 4%. Obesity in girls rose to 7.7% in 2022 from 0.6% in 1990.

“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 country’s National Health Commission said in October.

With inputs from agencies