妇女、儿童阅读材料:第二篇 Passage 2

第二篇 Passage 2

Obesity: A Warning to Chinese Children

“My son is crazy about junk food. He pesters me to let him eat McDonald’s and KFC every day. He is only eight years old, but weighs 45 kg. I really don’t know what to do with him,” a heavy-hearted father said, when he joined in activities to mark the second Chinese Students’ Nutrition Day on May 20, launched by the China Council for the Enhancement of Students’ Nutrition, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.

A physique test in a Beijing primary school showed that 27.8 percent children surpassed the standard weight level. The school head said worriedly, “Most of these children do not perform as well as others, are depressed and lack self-confidence. Their extra weight is unfavorable for their growth.”

At a forum on obesity and diseases, experts noted that the rate of obese children in cities has reached that of developed countries, and obesity has become the most fearful enemy to their health and growth.

Surprising Increase in Obese Children

The problem of child obesity first appeared in the early 1980s. A survey on Chinese students’ physical condition conducted by the Children and Teenagers’ Health Research Institute under Peking University collected data on 200 million children and teens throughout the country between 1979 and 2000, indicated that when China stopped being “a country with highest number of malnourished juveniles,” it faced a new problem-----hidden dangers to children’s health caused by obesity.

Ji Chengye, head of the institute in charge of the study on Chinese juvenile nutrition, said that in the early 1980s, children suffering from obesity were less than 1 percent, and common diseases suffered by students listed on the state program for prevention were dental caries, myopia and trachoma. In the 1990s, the number of obese children began to increase, attracting wide concern. Child obesity was added to the list of diseases to be prevented. In 1995, the obesity rates of people aged 18 or under were 3.5 percent (male) and 2.5 percent (female), up several times over the 1980s. In 2000, the figures reached 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Ji said overweight students have become a prominent concern in urban areas, with its figure three times that in rural areas. Among the cities, those in economically developed eastern coastal areas witness a higher rate than those in inland areas.

By the end of 2000, the obesity rate of male students in cities reached 10.1 percent. In Beijing,

it hit 15 percent, doubling that of 1990 and approaching that of developed countries.

The growth rate of child obesity in China is surprising, although the total number of overweight students has not reached the level of developed countries. Ji said the child obesity problem first appeared in the United States 100 years ago, and the current incidence remains at 15-20 percent. In Japan, it is 10 percent. These figures have changed little in the two countries over the past several decades. But China has doubled the figure every five years, and this speed is likely to accelerate along with the country’s economic development and as more people become wealthy.

A Big Enemy of Children’s Growth

Researchers found that obesity is related to genetics, but more direct reasons include lack of scientific consciousness of nutrition and exercise. Ji attributed child obesity to the following four aspects:

First, intake of high calorie food. Along with the improvement in people’s living standards, the amount of meat people eat has increased 1.5 times when compared with the 1980s, and that of oil and sugar has risen by 70 percent, and 80 percent, respectively.

Second, an incorrect conception of diets. Many people consider eating high-calorie and less nutritious snacks fashionable. They like to eat fish and meat with their meals, and children often nibble on snacks between meals.

Third, insufficient exercise. Nowadays, children living in cities go everywhere by motor vehicle, rather than riding a bicycle or walking. In multi-story buildings they never walk up the stairs, but take the lift. Some parents also prefer their children to spend time on studying rather than doing exercise. The popularization of TVs and computers has aggravated the situation, as they occupy children’s spare time, which should be used for exercise.

Fourth, lack of knowledge. Some parents have little knowledge of food nutrition, which results in unreasonable dietary patterns.

The harm of obesity to children is obvious. Experts noted that obesity decreases children’s confidence, causes them to sullen, and dampens their ability to adapt themselves to changes in society, because of the clumsiness caused by obesity. They are often not welcomed in group activities, and are excluded or even mocked by their peers, which severely harms their self-esteem and bridles their participation in group activities and communication with others. Therefore, they are likely to become sullen, feel inferior and gradually become cowardly. They are sensitive and suspicious when getting along with others. A survey showed that approximately 77 percent of overweight children feel inferior and lonely, and nearly half of them said they are not willing to be the focus in group activities.

Some studies indicate that obesity also curbs children’s intellectual development. A sample survey in Shanghai showed that among obese students, the ratio of high-score students is low, while that of examination failures is relatively high. An intelligence test conducted by Nanjing Hospital among 6-13 years old children showed that overweight children lag behind normal weight children.

Obesity is harmful, particularly to children’s physical growth. Experts maintained that 80 percent of overweight children will stay fat until puberty, and 45 percent will develop obesity when middle-aged or elderly. They are more likely to contract diseases, such as breast cancer in women and prostrate problems in men. Overweight children often feel fatigued, sweat and are often disturbed by respiratory, circulation and internal problems, which can trigger diabetes and high blood pressure. Peking Union Medical College Hospital sees 30,000 diabetes patients annually. Of these, 7 percent are children, the youngest just 14 months old.

Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle

Obesity has aroused nationwide attention. Many people, however, still lack the knowledge required to solve the problem. Many children undergo measures more suitable for adults, including medication, fasting and surgery. Experts warned that children and teens should not reduce weight arbitrarily. Ding Zongyi, a professor at the Nutrition Research Department of the Beijing Children Research Institute, said children should not starve themselves, undergo instant weight reduction programs, take medicine or be operated on, as these procedures are detrimental to the growth of organs, muscles and bones.

Other experts pointed out that a comprehensive approach should be taken to control the weight of children, as obesity is a chronic lifestyle disease. Both parents and children should not expect to achieve results overnight. A proper intake of vitamins and other nutrients, a control of sugar and fat intake and more exercise are the best ways to reduce weight.

Efforts have been made to improve children’s dietary patterns. Since 1990, the China Council for the Enhancement of Students’ Nutrition has carried out publicity activities during Chinese Students’ Nutrition Day, May 20. In December 1997, the Chinese Government promulgated the Plan on Improving the Nutrition of Chinese People, which promoted the popularization of nutritious food for students in a planned way. A Beijing Students’ Nutritious Food Office staff member said some parents hold a misconception, believing fried chicken and fish equals nutrition, and ignoring the real balance of food nutrition. To raise students’ consciousness of food nutrition, Beijing’s education authorities have distributed 5,000 posters illustrating nutritious food and 100,000 copies of the Guidance Book on Students’ Nutrition and Health to primary and middle schools throughout the city for free. In some primary schools, knowledge of food nutrition has been incorporated to lessons. Beijing No. 164 Middle School also invites experts to give lectures on food nutrition at the school.

The most important way to solve obesity problems is to take more exercise. Children should do aerobic exercises, including running, jogging, riding bicycles and swimming, for no less than 40 minutes each time. Exercises combines with a rational diet can effectively eliminate fat, which will enhance their physique and prevent diseases, Ji said.

课文词语 Words and Expressions from the Text

obesity 肥胖

physique test 体检

malnourished juveniles 营养不良的青少年

juvenile nutrition 青少年的营养状况

myopia 近视

trachoma 沙眼

aggravate the situation 使情况恶化

unreasonable dietary patterns 不合理的饮食习惯

dampen 减弱；抑制

bridle 控制

feel inferior 感到自卑

curb children’s intellectual development 束缚儿童的智力发育

sullen 闷闷不乐的

puberty 青春期

prostrate 虚脱

respiratory 呼吸系统的

circulation 循环

trigger diabetes 引发糖尿病

fasting 禁食

instant weight reduction 快速减肥法

detrimental 有损于

aerobic exercises 有氧运动