Comparison of the History of Obesity Between the United States and China

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Analysis
Childhood obesity
Anti-obesity efforts
Comments
Conclusion
Reference List

Abstract

Obesity is a condition where excess body fat accumulates to the extent that it adversely affects health, increasing more health problems while reducing life expectancy of those affected. It is associated with health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, health problems, osteoarthritis, certain types of cancer, and difficulties of breathing especially during sleep time. Regarding the causes, some perceive it to be linked to lack of physical activity and a combination of excessive dietary calories as well as heredity where one is susceptible genetically. The past history of obesity shows the public view, concern and status varying over the years. However, it has always been termed as an old age health condition that was viewed differently in various parts of the world. This paper gives the historical comparison of obesity between the United States and China.

Analysis

While obesity has been declared a global epidemic due to its influence on health, the historical background reveals that it is an ancient condition though it has not always been recognized as a health condition (Wu, 2006). Obesity has been linked to the economic conditions of urbanization, developments both technologically and industrially, globalization and economic growth hence the explanations for the differences in obesity between developed and developing nations (Yang, He & Kelly, 2007). The ancient China had an awareness of obesity and focused on prevention measures (Chan et al., 2008). The U.S. in the last decades was characterized by massive industrialization and development and hence obesity was evident mostly among adults (Yang et al, 2007). This was motivated by the fact that there were opportunities of growth which increased the purchasing power of households and were not health-conscious (Yang et al., 2007). As researches show, obesity in the U.S. during the earlier years was based on race and became prevalent among the African Americans (Yang et al., 2007). Obesity both in adults and children before the 20^th century was rare (Wu, 2006). Owing to the factors of industrialization and growth, the U.S. has maintained a high prevalent rate of obesity. This has been largely due to concentrated neighborhoods influencing eating habits, the convenience of fast foods and the lack of concern over increased weights. Statistics show that the U.S. has had high rates of obesity with 64% of the adult population being overweight and 26% being obese.

In China, the last decades did not have much prevalent obesity among adults. Some statistics show that this rate was just 5% of the adult population (Chan et al., 2008). The Chinese in the past decades were described as the leanest people (Wu, 2006). This however has changed over the recent years with more emphasis on modernization, economic growth and the influence of the American culture (Xiang et al., 2008). The statistics show that the prevalent rates are still high with the Chinese forming a fifth of the total world obese people (Wu, 2006). This further shows that this has increased in the 21^st century with around 2.6% Chinese being obese and the overweight ones being 14.7% in 2002 (Wu, 2006). China’s levels of obesity have been associated with increase in sedentary lifestyles, reduction in physical activity and traditional diet changes (Wu, 2006). The traditional way of life has been eroded by fast developments and adoption of a different culture (Wu, 2006). In the U.S., obesity rates have increased over the years for example, it was 19.4% in 1997, 24.5% in 2004 and 26.6% in 2007 (Yang et al., 2007). Studies also show that obesity and overweight in China is more gender specific and multi-factorial with the rates higher among women than men (Xiang et al, 2008).

Childhood obesity

In the past decades, obesity was more prevalence among adults but this has changed with the increased rates of obesity among the adolescents and children (Yang et al., 2007). During the 1980s and 1990s, the prevalence rates of obesity in the U.S. among adolescents was 5%, 6.5 % among children between 6 & 11 years, and 5% among children aged 2 to 5 years (Yang et al., 2007). This situation has changed over the years. In the early years of 2000, the prevalence rate of obesity in the U.S. among adolescents was 17% and 19% among children between 6 & 11 years. 15% of adolescents and children had high risks of being overweight leading to obesity (Yang et al., 2007). The publishing of Body Mass Index in 1994 increased the awareness of obesity statistics (Wu, 2006). In the period up to 2006, about 16.3% of adolescents and children were overweight while about 11.3% were obese (Yang et al., 2007).

China is characterized by rapid development and growth in the last few decades and has had an increase in the number of children experiencing obesity (Chan et al., 2008). The prevalence rate of obesity in China over the years has been higher among children than adults (Wu, 2006). In the period between 1985 and 2000, the prevalence of obesity among children aged between 7 & 18 years increased by four times (Wu, 2006). In 1996, the obesity prevalence rates among children were only 2.8% lower than the rates in the U.S. (Wu, 2006). The prevalence rate among adolescents in 1998 was 11.6% increasing to 15.9% by 2004 (Chan et al., 2008). Over the years, the prevalence rate of obesity among children in China has been higher among younger children and higher in boys than in girls (Chan et al., 2008). The historical information on obesity prevalence has been higher in the U.S. than in China with increases in both nations.

The concern for the rising prevalence rates of overweight and obesity has increased over the years in both the U.S. and China due to the fact that it has been discovered that children and adolescents who are obese and overweight are likely to grow into obese adults (Yang et al., 2007). Research over the years has identified obese and overweight children being more likely to suffer from adverse health problems even as the cholesterol levels in children both in the U.S. and China increase over the decade (Xiang et al., 2008). Studies have shown further that obese and overweight children in both countries are not likely to finish their education and experience health conditions that are detrimental to their lives (Yang et al., 2007).

The fact that both the U.S. and China are developed and dominant global superpowers has had an effect on the prevalence rates of obesity (Xiang et al., 2008). Children in such nations have sedentary lifestyles; engage in less physical activity, increased use of video games and television and are lured to the convenience of fast foods and transport means (Yang et al., 2007). Further, as Chan et al. (2008) point out, China’s generation of children has been influenced by the western culture. This has been highly motivated by living in towns and urban centers, coming from wealthy households, having an obese parent or relative, limited use of sport facilities, use of soft drinks and high intake of fast foods. However in the recent years, efforts in both nations have been focused on lowering the prevalence rate of obesity in children especially through the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the costs and the high mortality rate among children associated with the conditions of obesity (Friis, 2010).

Anti-obesity efforts

The concerns for anti-obesity campaigns arose from the 1990s following the publishing of body mass index in the same decade (Yang et al., 2007). The WHO has been on the forefront over the years in eradication of the disease. The critical nature of obesity encouraged WHO to declare it a global epidemic even as the trends especially for developed countries such as China and the US increase (Xiang et al., 2008). The concerns for obesity came at a time when medical researchers linked it to lifestyles and emphasized on more increased measures and encouragement to avert it (Friis, 2010). The efforts over the years in both nations have been on the increase with more publications on obesity in the U.S. and with more governmental and non-governmental efforts (Wu, 2006). The efforts acknowledge the fact that the cost of obesity has a great influence on economic growth because of increased spending and provision of services to cater for the obese and overweight people (Yang et al., 2007). Efforts have been emphasized on the research especially on increasing childhood obesity and efforts to curb family cultural influence on children through encouraging physical activity (Friis, 2010).

Comments

The history of obesity has largely been associated with wealth hence hindering it from gaining earlier attention and concern. Even as the prevalence rates increase, the lack of sufficient historical documentation on the same still poses a big challenge in dealing with it. The fact that obesity is linked to reduction in life expectancy calls for more concerns on childhood obesity. Further, there is a link between the obesity conditions in the U.S. and China with much association to modernity and development. However, this is a challenge for technology development to focus not only on making life easier, but also helping people increase the level of physical activity. The critical epidemiological nature of obesity is crucial in helping people develop better ways of weight and health management. More research is necessary to deal with the issue with encouragement on more publications due to the influence of culture on the same. Obesity has been associated in the recent years with discrimination thus influencing the need to address stress-related matters and other root causes of the same (Xiang et al., 2008). This is important since it has been found that losing weight after being obese creates a situation for one to become obese again if the root causes are not addressed (Friis, 2010). China and the U.S. have to adopt more efficient ways of managing the prevalence rates in their nations due to the fact that the cost that is linked with the illness is quite high and economic growth still has to be maintained.

Conclusion

This paper has focused on the past history of obesity in China and the U.S. Emphasis has been placed on obesity in adults, obesity in children and the anti-obesity efforts by the nations. The research has found that the nations have common root causes of obesity that are linked more to modernization and lifestyle changes. However, it has been found that the prevalence rates are still higher in the U.S while the rates among the Chinese population are more prevalent among the children and adolescents than in adults. Further, it has been recognized that unlike the U.S. that has maintained high rates over the years, China’s prevalence rates of obesity have risen more in the 21^st century and are highly associated with its increasing economic growth.

Reference List

Chan, J., Lam, C., Ho, C., Chan, M., Tong, P., So, W., Kong, A., Wong, G., Ozaki, R., & Ko, G. (2008). The problem of obesity among adolescents in Hong Kong: a comparison using various diagnostic criteria. Journal of BMC Pediatrics, 8(10), 1471-2431.

Friis, R. (2010). Epidemiology 101. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Wu, Y. (2006). Overweight and obesity in China. BMJ Publications, 333(7564), 362-363.

Xiang, K., Gu, H., Zuo, Y., Jiang, S., Lu, H., Jia, W., & Hou, X. (2008). Risk factors for overweight and obesity, and changes in body mass index in Chinese adults in Shanghai. BMC Public Health, 8(389), 1471-2458.

Yang, W., He, J., & Kelly, T. (2007). Genetic Epidemiology of obesity. Epidemiologic Reviews, 29, 49-61.

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