Taller and fatter: study shows boys in rural China are 7.5cm taller and 6.6kg heavier than a decade ago thanks to better nutrition
- An official study has found boys aged 13 in rural China are now 7.5cm taller and 6.6kg heavier than a decade ago
- Meanwhile, children aged between 6 and 15 were on average at least 3cm taller and 1kg heavier due to improved diet
Improved nutrition has increased the average height and weight of boys aged 13 in rural China who are now 7.5cm taller and 6.6kg heavier than a decade ago, an official study found.
While the gain was biggest among boys in the 13-year-old age bracket, children aged between six and 15 were on average at least 3cm taller and 1kg heavier due to improved diet, according to a survey of schoolchildren from rural areas of about 700 counties across China between 2012 and 2021.
Among girls, those aged 12 benefited the most, gaining 6.3cm in height and 5.8kg in weight on average, found the study, which was published on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Education on Friday.
The significant increase in children’s weight was mainly thanks to a nutrition improvement initiative launched in 2012, targeting students from poorer rural regions, the study said.
The prevalence of stunted growth dropped by 5.7 per cent from 10 years ago, affecting just 2.3 per cent of the children monitored last year.
However, by the end of last year as many as 12 per cent still suffered from anaemia, a condition largely linked to nutritional deficiencies although this had decreased by nearly 5 per cent since 2012.
Despite a considerable increase in the availability and diversity of food provided to children in lower-income areas, less than a third of them had access to milk and fruit every day last year.