China launches three-year public weight control campaign to tackle rising obesity

27 Jun 2024 --- China has unveiled a three-year campaign to enhance weight management in a bid to control the growing problem of obesity among its population. The National Health Commission (NHC), the Ministry of Education and Civil Affairs and 13 other departments have issued a document highlighting the measures that will become effective this year. 

The program’s overarching goals include raising awareness about the tools and techniques of weight management and creating a “supportive environment” for weight management, which can lead to adopting healthy lifestyles across the country.

The document also notes that the abnormal weight status of certain groups of people, such as pregnant women, young adults, children, the elderly and individuals working certain jobs, should improve over time.

Tackling obesity
Guo Yanhong, director of the NHC’s Health Emergency Response Office, says growing obesity rates require urgent action. The joint document highlights the action plan, which includes encouraging employers to provide infrastructure and other conveniences for their employees’ fitness.

In addition to office workers, the ministries want to promote fitness among student groups by establishing healthy canteens and restaurants and ensuring at least an hour of physical activity during and after school hours every day. The sale of foods high in salt, sugar and fats is discouraged on campuses.

The document supports the use of traditional Chinese medicine in weight management and the adoption of “healthy consumption” practices, including transforming food processing techniques to increase nutritional output and reducing the content of oil, salt and sugar in processed foods.

As weight levels are closely related to overall health, often increasing the chances of chronic conditions such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer, the NHC states that a major aim of the campaign is to prevent and tackle these diseases at the source, with an enhanced focus on maintaining holistic health rather than merely treating illnesses. Additionally, the program can also cover underweight individuals and those with malnutrition.

The Chinese authorities emphasize the development of smart, wearable devices in the action plan to effectively monitor weight and other health metrics. Additionally, they urge integrating big data and AI to personalize health management strategies.

Weight loss drug
The campaign’s announcement comes a day after China approved Novo Nordisk’s hugely popular weight loss drug Wegovy. The seal from China’s National Medical Products Administration will enable the company to sell its injectable weight-loss drug in the country, where 16.4% of the population is estimated to be overweight.

The demand for weight loss drugs has increased in China, with many pharmaceutical players manufacturing medicines similar to Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy.