College in Jilin wants its students to eat healthier

As China works to feed a fifth of the world's population, the country's authorities are making efforts to help residents eat healthier with a public nutrition demonstration center in Jilin province.

"With chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes surging among China's youths, the nutrition program is expected to expand nationwide in the near future," said Wang Dongyang, deputy director of the Institute of Food and Nutrition Development of the Ministry of Agriculture, at the center's launching ceremony on Thursday.

The demonstration center, established by the institute and the Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology College, aims to help the college's students develop healthier eating habits.

"After students develop healthy habits, they will influence their families and the next generation," Wang said.

Over the past two decades, Chinese people have grown heavier. The obesity rate climbed to 12 percent in 2012, more than double the rate in 1992, according to statistics from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. About one in 10 adults suffer from diabetes across the country.

Dietary guidelines released by the center suggest that male students should take in less than 2,070 calories each day; female students less than 1,720 calories. The guidelines also estimate how many calories each student should consume in one course sold in the college's canteen. A dish of meat eaten daily by male students should be less than 75 grams; 50 grams for females.

The guidelines emphasized a diverse diet for every meal, which should include fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, proteins and vegetable oil.

"The coming decade will be crucial in improving Chinese eating habits, with youths a top priority," said Liao Wenke, an official at the Ministry of Education.

Xu Dalin, head of the Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology College, said that although health problems among college students are increasing, nutrition education will help alleviate them.

According to the ministry's surveys on the fitness of Chinese young people from 1985 to 2010, the country's young population is shifting from being undernourished to being overfed.

"Bad eating habits are the main reason for the surge in chronic diseases like obesity in China," Wang said.

In order to help residents develop healthy dietary patterns, the central government has released three food guidelines since 1993 to emphasize the importance of healthier eating.

"Building more hospitals will not solve the problem. Preventing diseases via healthier eating is the key," Wang said.

Wang added that if the trend in poor eating habits continues, more than double the number of people will have chronic diseases by 2020, which would place immense pressure on the country's health insurance system.

The World Bank urged China to step up its efforts to fight chronic diseases in a 2011 report, warning that a reduced ratio of healthy workers to sicker, older dependents will certainly increase the odds of a future economic slowdown and pose a significant social challenge.

Contact the writer at wangqian@chinadaily.com.cn