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June 22, 2015

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China’s getting fatter, but it’s not junk food that’s to blame

Source: Xinhua | June 22, 2015, Monday | Print Edition

Chinese people are getting wealthier, but not necessarily healthier.

Bian Ke, a restaurant owner in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, says changing tastes are responsible for the country’s increasing waistbands.

“Up-market food, such as goose liver, is a symbol of high living and opulence,” he said. “However, patrons are not paying attention to the amount of protein they take in.”

Traditional ingredients, such as chicken or duck, have been replaced by lobster and steak — the reason so many people are becoming “pot-bellied,” he said.

China’s economic growth has allowed people to enjoy fuller diets, but rich ingredients have led to an increase of obesity. In Sichuan, the most populous province in southwest China, almost one third of the population is said to be overweight.

A 2013 survey found there were 62 million overweight Chinese, second only to the United States.

Unlike the West, it is not junk food such as fries and hamburgers that is being blamed, but rather oil and salt-heavy food such as hotpot and grilled meat.

“Nowadays, people are too busy to cook at home,” Bian said, “which means they are not in control of the amount of oil and salt that goes into their food.”

In Sichuan’s Shuangliu County, Meng Ye’s hotpot restaurant serves roughly 1,000 customers every day.

“Hot pot is not only delicious, but also cheap and convenient,” Meng said.

A standard hotpot uses 2.5 kilograms of oil, Meng said, adding that salt and oil heightens the flavor.”

Despite links to cardiovascular disease, a high intake of salt and oil is a widespread problem in China. According to government figures, the daily intake of salt per person in south China is 10 to 12 grams, and that rises to 15 to 18 grams in the north. Even in Guangdong Province, known for its bland food, average salt intake is 9.1 grams per day, 82 percent higher than the amount recommended by the World Health Organization.

“Such improper dietary patterns are making the Chinese unhealthy. Something must be done,” said Wang Yanping of the China Medicinal Biotech Association.

Wang said people should eat more cereal and less meat.

“We may be getting wealthier,” Wang said. “But more importantly, we should be getting healthier.”

Nation


 

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