Special Issue: Chinese food and health: implications for
populations in transition (Part 1)
Guest editors: Bridget Hsu-Hage, Mark
Wahlqvist, Ian Darnton-Hill, Keyou Ge
Editorial. Public health nutrition in the Asia Pacific region. Bridget H-H Hsu-Hage and Zak Sabry
Described are the main findings of the first large-scale nutrition monitoring project carried out over a 4-year period in China. The nutritional status of nearly 10 000 preschool children in 18 comparatively poor rural areas in seven provinces was followed each year over the period 198S89 in order to identify their major nutrition 1000 al problems and improve their growth and development. Physical measurements were made and dietary surveys and biochemical tests were performed on a subsample of the children. The proportion of stunted and underweight children was far higher than the national average. Based on the possibilities offered by local circumstances, the prevalences of stunting and underweight were lowered and anaemia greatly reduced. Along with the progress in nutrition monitoring, major efforts were made to train health workers, as well as to encourage increased production of green vegetables, poultry, and small livestock. The wealth of information collected and the experience gained may serve as a baseline record, the project currently being expanded to cover 100 counties throughout China.
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An anthropometric study was conducted on more than 13 500 children aged 0-6 years in 1988. Percentile charts were plotted for height for age, weight for age, weight for height and head circumference for age. When compared to an earlier study done in 1972, it was found that Singapore pre-school children had increased in height by 4.4%; weight by 10.9 %; and head circumference by 4.1%. When the median height for age, weight for age and head circumference for age were plotted against those of the NCHS charts (1978), Singapore's pre-school children were generally shorter, lighter and had smaller head circumferences than their American counterparts of the same age. But, the median weight-for-height tor each age group was comparable to the Americans. The results indicate the secular trend of growth in Singapore children and a trend towards reaching their full genetic potential for growth.
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An upward trend in obesity has been observed in Singapore school children over the 15 years prior to the study. A case-control study of 400 children (mean age 10 years) and their parents was conducted to determine some of' the factors likely to be associated with obesity in primary-school children. It included dietary practices and intake, activity patterns, family history and social factors. It was found that obese children were more likely to consume foods that were deep-fried or sweet and were more likely to have at least one obese parent and sibling. A variety of intervention measures were taken to reduce the prevalence and severity of obesity in school children following the study.
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During the last decade, childhood obesity has been on the increase in Singapore and many newly industrialised Asian countries. We compared the mean body mass index (BMI) and triceps skinfold (TSF) values, as well as the dietary and physical activity patterns of Singaporean Chinese and Chinese American youths. Chinese Americans had a higher mean BMI but a lower mean TSF than Singaporean Chinese. Dietary comparisons suggest that Singaporean Chinese ate fish and grain products more often than Chinese American youths, while Chinese American youths consumed processed meats, dairy products and snack foods more frequently. Mean frequency of consumption of low fat, traditional Chinese foods such as rich porridge was higher among the Singaporean Chinese, while typical 'American' foods including cheese were consumed more often among the Chinese Americans. Certain food items that were more 'neutral' in terms of their cultural identity, such as carbonated drinks, cookies and bread were consumed with the same mean frequencies in both cohorts. In terms of physical activity, Singaporean Chinese youths, on average, spent more time in sedentary activities, less time sitting, and more time in light or moderate activities. The mean time spent on vigorous activities per day was only one hour in both cohorts. Our study suggests differences in body fat distribution and composition, as well as in dietary and activity patterns, between Chinese American and Singaporean Chinese youths. There is a need to develop obesity indicators that are appropriate for the specific populations involved, and to carefully investigate environmental influences on childhood obesity.
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In Hong Kong, blood lipid profiles of adults
and children are comparable to the western industrialised
nations. The age on-set of ischaemic heart disease in Hong Kong
is gradually declining to occur in younger adults. Dietary
practices of adolescents influence food habits later in life.
However, published data on current dietary intakes of Hong Kong
adolescents are scanty. This paper reports a dietary survey of
current food habits in 179 12-year-old adolescents using a food
frequency questionnaire. The mean ± SD intake of energy,
protein, fat, carbohydrate, cholesterol, calcium, iron, vitamin C
and fibre were 2164 ± 766 kcal, 107
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This study examined variations in dietary intake, which were associated with differences in education, lifestyle and health behaviours of elderly men and women (n=305) in Beijing. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were obtained through in-home interview. Nutrient analyses of the reported diets were carried out using the Chinese nutrient data base. It was found that more men than women smoked and that alcohol consumption was associated with smoking. Smokers had a lower intake of vitamin C (P<0.01), carotenoids (P<0.05) and calcium (P<0.05) than non-smokers in both genders. Female smokers also showed a lower intake of fruits, vegetables and milk compared with female non-smokers.
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The types and prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors vary somewhat among the three main ethnic groups in peninsular Malaysia. Indians consistently show the highest prevalence for hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes mellitus. Among the Malays, a relatively high prevalence of hypertension and hypertriglyceridaemia have been reported. Overweight is also a risk factor among the Indians and Malays. In general, Chinese tend to have a lower prevalence for these CHD risk factors than the Indians and Malays. Parallel to the rapid socio-economic development and urbanisation in recent decades is a rise in the percentage of deaths due to cardiovascular disease in peninsular Malaysia, that is from 1.8% of total deaths from all causes in 1950 to about 30% in 1991. Coronary heart disease accounts for 40% of all cardiovascular diseases. The mortality rate for CHD has more than doubled between 1965 and 1991, from 24.6 per 100 000 to 57.2. While Indians have been showing the highest CHD mortality rate so far, that of the Malays has been increasing most rapidly since 1970, concomitant with the latter's increase in their proportion of the urban population in peninsular Malaysia.
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Copyright © 1994 [Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition].
All rights reserved.
Please note: this article has been scanned and reformatted.
Please contact lshirven@ozemail.com.au if any
errors are suspected.
Revised: September 12, 1999.