On March 4, the 2023 “World Obesity Day” China Summit -- “Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk about Obesity” was successfully held online. Leading experts and leaders from China and abroad discussed the future of obesity prevention and control to help build a “Healthy China”. Leaders and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Obesity Federation (WOF), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the Chinese National Health Commission (NHC), the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC), the Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS), universities and hospitals delivered speeches in the Summit. About 20,000 participants joined the summit online.
To advocate global and whole society to prioritize investment in tackling the obesity issue, the WOF set October 11 as the World Obesity Day (WOD) from 1995 to 2019. March 4 was marked as the new WOD in 2020.
In 2022, the Obesity Prevention and Control Section of the CNS (CNS-OPCS) and the Global Health Institute (GHI) of Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU), together with partners at home and abroad, introduced the WOD to China for the first time. Through extensive cooperation with domestic and foreign institutions and experts, a series of activities were organized to raise society’s awareness of obesity and promote more practical initiatives for obesity prevention and control.
The theme of WOD in 2023 is “Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk About Obesity”. In collaboration with relevant institutions and organizations, the CNS-OPCS and the GHI of XJTU organized a series of activities, including the 2023 “World Obesity Day” China Summit, developing the 20 Weight-Loss Recommendations on Healthy Weight Management for Chinese Residents, and the Award for Outstanding Popular Scientific Works on Obesity Prevention and Control. These activities encouraged all sectors of the society to participate in tackling the obesity epidemic and promote to achieve the national goals of “Healthy China.”
The 2023 “World Obesity Day” China Summit
The co-chairs of the summit were Youfa Wang, Deputy Director of XJTU Health Science Center, President of the GHI and Chairman of the CNS-OPCS; Mingxiao Sun, Medical director of Beijing Eden Hospital and Deputy Chairman of the CNS-OPCS; Wen Peng, Director of Nutrition and Health Promotion Center of Qinghai University Medical Institute, Director of Qinghai Nutrition Society and Secretary General of the CNS-OPCS.
1.Opening Remarks
Youfa Wang kicked off the event by introducing the WOD, reflecting on the activities in 2022, and highlighting the activities planned by the CNS-OPCS and its partner institutions for 2023.
Leaders from three international organizations made remarks. Francesco Branca, WHO Director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development; Gauden Galea, WHO Representative to China; Akhtar Hussain, President of the IDF; and Louise Baur, President of the WOF, delivered speeches, respectively. In their remarks, they emphasized the significance of the Summit and urged the world to change the stereotype of obesity and take appropriate measures to curtail obesity prevalence. They believe that China’s actions will have profound impacts on obesity prevention and control worldwide.
Several other domestic leaders representing key related government departments and other organizations delivered speeches. Qunan Mao, Deputy Director of the Office of the Health China Action Promotion Committee, Director of the Department of Planning and Information of the National Health Committee (NHC); Yuexin Yang, Chairman of the CNS; Gangqiang Ding, Director of the Nation Institute for Nutrition and Health of the CCDC, gave speeches respectively. They emphasized that since the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has always prioritized people’s health and made building a healthy China a national strategy. Experts in relevant fields are expected to actively promote practical approaches and successful experiences in combating obesity to advance the implementation of the “Healthy China” strategy.
2.Academic Reports
Jie Mi, Honorary Director of the Pediatric Chronic Disease Management Center of the National Center for Children's Health and Deputy Chairman of the CNS-OPCS, offered evidence-based views and suggestions on childhood obesity prevention and control. Jiao Xu, Director of the Department of Food Safety Standards, Risk Surveillance and Assessment of the NHC, expounded on the policy background, social environment, establishing a nutrition institute for weight control in China, and the prospects for the future fight against obesity in China. Youfa Wang emphasized that obesity is an epidemic that requires immediate attention from all walks of life; He also presented the current situation and future trends in obesity prevention, control, and treatment in China. Wei Chen, Deputy Director of the Clinical Nutrition Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, stressed the urgent need to mitigate the severe consequences of obesity, and explained approaches such as lifestyle modification, low glycemic index diet, and other effective weight loss methods.
3.Releasing 20 Weight-Loss Recommendations for Chinese Residents
Led by the CNS-OPCS and the GHI of XJTU, about 20 multidisciplinary experts from different universities, research institutions, and hospitals developed “The 20 Weight-Loss Recommendations on Healthy Weight Management for Chinese Residents: Evidence-based Expert Recommendations” (called in short, “The 20 Recommendations”). The report was introduced at the forum. “The 20 Recommendations” included 20 principles and practical methods for weight loss, which were developed based on the latest high-level scientific evidences on weight loss, including lifestyle modification, positive psychology, traditional medicine, and clinical treatments. The recommendations aim to promote evidence-based weight management to help overweight/obese patients to lose weight safely and effectively. It was in response to the action initiative of WOD in 2023 and the “Healthy China” initiative. Xiangyang Tian, Secretary General of the Academic Committee of China Health Education Center and a committee member of the CNS-OPCS, presented the 20 recommendations.
4.Highlights of Outstanding Public Education Materials for Obesity Prevention and Control
A program was launched during January-February inviting scholars and graduate students in China to submit public education materials for obesity prevention and control; and the organizing committee received a large number of submitted materials such as videos, drawings, and articles. Some of them were awarded prizes based on evaluation by an award committee.
The program was jointed organized by the CNS-OPCS, the Behavioral Health Branch of the Chinese Preventive Medical Association, the International Research Center for Obesity and Metabolic Diseases of XJTU, Xi’an Physical Education University (X PEU), the Citizen Science Quality and Sports Health Research Center of Shaanxi Province, and other collaboration institutions.
During the summit, Bo Gou, Professor of the School of Sports and Health Science of X PEU and Deputy Leader of the 2023 WOD Working Group of the CNS-OPCS, introduced this program and highlighted some award-winning materials.
At the end of the summit, the experts answered some questions from the audience. The experts and audience spoke highly of the Summit. They hope such high-level, interdisciplinary, multi-agency cooperation activities can be held regularly.
“World Obesity Day” Public Health Education and Community Service Events
Members of the CNS-OPCS and their counterparts across the country carried out a series of online and offline activities. Some were reported in the media, which helped dissemination of the related information among the public. Following highlighted three of these events.
1. National online workshop: The CNS-OPCS specially organized online expert lectures on childhood obesity for the public. Over 11,000 people joined the online workshop. The speakers covered the significance of preventing and controlling childhood obesity from the perspectives of epidemic trends, risk factors, and adverse consequences of childhood obesity. They provided advice on diet and exercise. The event aimed to improve the public's awareness of childhood obesity, and to promote the participation of teachers, parents, and children in preventing and controlling childhood obesity in the nation.
2. Liaoning Province: The “2023 World Obesity Day Publicity Activity - School Students Obesity Prevention and Control in Liaoning Province” was a big success. More than 400,000 primary and secondary school students watched the live broadcast. After the meeting, medical staff from China Medical University (CMU), and Jinzhou Medical University (JZMU) provided anthropometric assessments and individualized nutrition guidance for children.
The event was guided by the Education Department of Liaoning Province, was jointly held by the Jinzhou Education Bureau, CMU, and JZMU, and was supported by the CNS-OPCS. Professor Deliang Wen, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jinzhou Medical University, Zhengge Miao, Deputy Mayor of Jinzhou City, and other leaders attended the launching ceremony and delivered speeches. Professor Lihong Jia, Director of the Teaching and Research Department of Child Health, and Maternal and Child Health of the School of Public Health (SPH), CMU, delivered a keynote lecture entitled “Causes, Detriment, and Preventive Measures of Childhood Obesity.” Professor Bing Song, Vice President of the First Affiliated Hospital of JZMU, explained the implementation plan for comprehensive prevention and control of obesity in children and adolescents in Jinzhou.
3. Shanghai: The CNS-OPCS, SPH of Fudan University (FDU), Children's Sports Branch of Shanghai Youth Sports Association (YSA), and Gongkang Kindergarten of Jing 'an District of Shanghai jointly carried out the “Balanced eating and exercise and growth well” - WOD public health education program. Professor Gengsheng He, Deputy Dean of the SPH, FDU, and Professor Dajiang Lu, School of Exercise Science, Shanghai University of Sport, lectured on “Reasonable Diet, Prevention of Obesity” and “Balanced Eating and Exercise, Reasonable Health”, respectively. Yao Shi, Lecturer of the Children’s Sports Branch of the YSA, organized a digital sport game with the children in the senior kindergarten grade. Science popularization activities showed the importance of appropriate diet and exercise for healthy weight of children and improved the awareness of faculty and parents on the harm of childhood obesity.
The last year 2022 “World Obesity Day” China Summit at a Glance
Background—the growing obesity epidemic in China and worldwide
Obesity has become a serious public health problem in China and worldwide. Currently, about 40% of adults worldwide are overweight or obese. In China, the figure is over 50% of adults and around 20% of school-age children. Obesity significantly increases the risk of multiple chronic diseases, leading to serious health, social and economic consequences. Obesity prevention and control has been a top priority of the WHO, the Chinese National Health Commission, and some other international institutions.
