This week’s article focuses on a positive spin that could prevent the global health issue if obesity. This country is China, in which the article talks about the many strides that this country in particular is taking to produce healthier civilians. The Chinese are starting at the “grass roots” levels to encourage people to exercise and stay fit. China has incorporated fitness into the school system by giving PE more weight in that they are graded like all other general education such as math, reading, and writing. This gets more kids active not only because the school makes them but to maintain grades. Also stated in the article there is evidence that there are more people participating in amateur sports, and in fact Mr. Wang (person interviewed at a local pool) could recall 6 pools in the city limits not even including the pools at hotels that have general admission for the public. In addition there are social clubs that focus on a particular sport as well as fitness centers that have gained 6,000 people in the four years since it has opened giving a total of 10,000 people enrolled at gyms. The government also supports the efforts toward a fitter society with the training of elite athletes. The article talks about Sun Xiaofei in particular who hasn’t attended school since he was 15 because of his career as a professional swimmer and employee of the state. Mr. Sun mentions that he is happy with his life, even though he may never make it to the Olympics; he still lives well due to the government putting money into athletes such as himself.
Are the efforts of China paying off? You might think so comparing the facts that Chinas obesity weight is close to 20% while about 50.8% of Americans are obese speaks for itself. Obesity is preventable and with that being said, about 2.8 million people die each year as a result of obesity. There can be multiple factors that can contribute to the high rate. The World Health Organization however narrows the causes of death down to two key factors- an increase intake of energy dense food high in fat salts and sugars and a decrease in physical activity. Could we blame the intake of high energy dense food on society in which we allow fast food to be dinner every night? Can we blame the decrease in the physical activity on new technology which makes things getting done much easier with little movement? Both these aspects factor in on the increase in obesity rates yet every person has an able mind to object and have the will to be physically fit. China has implemented small ways in that its society wants to be active by assigning money to activities and making the resources widely available. What China is doing clearly has impacted the lives of citizens. All the incentives taken for reducing this global issue have not gone in vain because obviously numbers don’t lie. The World as a whole have to take responsibilities for their actions and have a want to take care of themselves, what better way to do that than with a little push from the government?
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