CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN CHINA
Ding ZY
Beijing Children’s Hospital, Beijing, China
Objective:
To introduce the study
on childhood obesity in China and the current situation, trends, strategy
of prevention and therapy of childhood obesity in China and use BMI/KAUP to
assess obesity in pediatrics.
Methods:
Epidemiology, physiology,
behavior, psychology and molecular study.
Results: Since 1986 our work team (National
Task Force on Childhood Obesity of China NTFCOC) had already made a series of
studies on childhood obesity as follows: 1. National Epidemiological Study
(1986 & 1996). The data shows that the prevalence of obesity in the 0-7
age group keeps at terrible high level (2%) in a long period of time, the
annually increased rate of prevalence of obesity is out of control (9.1%).
The Adiposity Rebound Age (5 yr) is too early and the Adiposity Rebound
Ratio is too high (2.0 – 3.2) which indicate that the sharply increased
mortality and morbidity of obesity and coronary heart disease will be
appeared in the next 20 years and future. The Obesity – Overweight Ratio is
too high (2%) which by means of weight control is a very important priority
of health protection of Chinese kids in the forthcoming days. 2. Physiology
Study and Exercise prescription. This is the first report in the field of
pediatrics, according to the physiology experiment by the district
scientific design and physiology principle, that showed that obesity has
already hazard the obese children in childhood in the field of impaired the
heart – lung function, reduce the aerobic capacity and retarded the
development of aerobic capacity, lowered the physical performance capacity.
As the degree of obesity is higher, the impairment mentioned above is
severe. The exercise prescription made by the basis of development of
aerobic capacity of Chinese children is suitable to obese children and can
effectively improve the aerobic and physical performance capacity. 3.
Psychology – Behavioral Study and Behavioral Modification. The experimental
observation showed that the psychological conflict, psychical depression
and behavioral bias exist in obese kids which is the main raison of the
obstacle of treatment of obesity and its relapse. Behavioral modification
is a effective measure for weight management 4. Molecular Study. We have
already now got the Leptin from obese kids and the high efficiency express
of purification of Leptin. We also study on apoptosis of adipocyte from
ob/non-ob kids, which will open a new page of etiology and therapy of
obesity. Even though the Leptin being using in the clinic in future, the
multidisciplinary combined protocol which including medical monitoring,
exercise prescription instruction, behavior modification and nutrition
instruction, is still the only way of weight management and obesity cure
anyway. There are a lot of pitfalls in the field of using BMI/Kaup asses
obesity in Pediatrics. It is needed to be estimated carefully the cutoff
point.
Conclusion: Obesity has already been a very severe
and important health and social problem. Prevention and control of obesity
should be started from pregnancy period.