Olympic armchair culture fans fears
Chinese media has even given its army of TV Olympic spectators a name — otaku — a Japanese word that means “venerable house” and usually refers to someone nerdy who is totally devoted to a hobby to the point of not leaving home.
Increased TV viewing, less physical jobs and a move away from a traditional Chinese diet to a more Western diet heavier in meat, eggs and dairy has piled on the pounds.
“Lots of mothers don’t know what to feed their children anymore,” said Zhao Hua, who was having lunch with her six-year-old son at a massive McDonald’s in the Olympics site.
“In the past it was good to be a bit fat because it was a sign of strength but now children are getting too fat.”
Figures show about a quarter of Chinese adults are obese or overweight, which is lower than many other countries but has jumped from 13% in 1991, with forecasts it could double by 2028.
By comparison, World Health Organisation figures show 65% of adult Americans in 2005 were overweight or obese.
The World Food Programme says a six-year-old boy in China is now 13 pounds (6kgs) heavier and about 6.4cms taller than a six-year-old 30 years ago.
“We need to find the right investments and regulations to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, or we risk facing higher rates of death, disease, and disability and the related costs,” warned researcher Barry Popkin.
Meanwhile, Chinese customs officials confiscated 315 bibles from four Americans who arrived in the south-western city of Kunming with plans to distribute them, Vision Beyond Borders’ leader Pat Klein said.
The officially atheistic country only allows bibles to be used in government-sanctioned churches and in some big hotels catering to foreigners.
An airport officer denied the confiscation. She said authorities were just “taking care” of them and provided no further details.
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