China Boosts Physical Education in Schools to Combat Rising Obesity Rates

HONG KONG (Reuters) – China is making physical education a key part of school curriculums. This move aims to tackle rising concerns about childhood obesity. Authorities want to ensure that physical education is treated equally alongside core subjects like Chinese, math, and English.

The Ministry of Education emphasizes the importance of sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball. They believe that this holistic approach will help create well-rounded students. By combining physical fitness with learning, kids can be better prepared for the future.

In January, China announced a national plan to build a “strong education nation” by 2035. This plan includes guidelines for students to engage in at least two hours of physical activity each day. This is crucial for addressing issues like myopia and obesity.

There has been a shortage of physical education teachers, particularly in rural areas, with around 120,000 positions unfilled as of mid-2022. To help address this gap, the new measures will recruit retired athletes and military veterans. Physical education teachers will receive pay similar to their peers in other subjects, with additional salary for after-school sports duties.

Concern about youth obesity has grown since 2019. The COVID lockdowns led to less physical activity, and many young people turned to fast, unhealthy food options. As the economy faces challenges, expert predictions suggest that obesity rates will continue to climb over the next decade.

Statistics show that the rate of obesity among boys in China jumped from 1.3% in 1990 to 15.2% in 2022. While this still trails behind the U.S. rate of 22%, it is notably higher than rates in Japan (6%), Britain and Canada (12%), and India (4%). For girls, the obesity rate rose to 7.7% from just 0.6% in 1990.

The rise in obesity is concerning. The National Health Commission has identified it as a significant public health issue, ranking it as the sixth leading cause of death and disability in the nation.