Report on the Nutrition and Health Status Survey of Chinese Residents - Part 1, 2002 Comprehensive Report

Author: Wang Longde
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-07
Features: The routine investigation and statistics of national nutrition and health status are one of the important indicators of a modernized society and social progress. Most developed countries in the world and some developing countries regularly conduct national dietary, nutrition, and health status surveys, promptly release national health status reports, and formulate their own food production and health care policies based on these findings to improve the nutrition and health levels of their citizens. Therefore, as a country with a large population and rapidly developing economy, it is crucial to conduct national nutrition and health status surveys during the period of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. China has conducted three nationwide nutrition surveys in 1959, 1982, and 1992, three nationwide epidemiological surveys on hypertension in 1959, 1979–1980, and 1991, and two epidemiological sampling surveys on diabetes in 1984 and 1995. These surveys have provided a wealth of basic data for the formulation of health care strategies and measures in China. However, since these surveys were conducted separately, there were issues such as duplicated funding, inability to share data and information resources, which neither comprehensively reflected the nutrition and health status of the nation nor served as an authoritative database for national nutrition and health. To fully and accurately understand the nutrition and health status of residents in China, provide a scientific basis for formulating national policies, and adjust the focus and investment direction of health work, the Ministry of Health organized experts for discussions in January 2001 and decided to integrate the national hypertension, diabetes, and nutrition surveys. Based on the full utilization of resources and information sharing, the "National Nutrition and Health Survey of Chinese Residents" was launched, aiming to make it a routine work in China's health system. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the National Science and Technology Commission, and the National Bureau of Statistics, the "National Nutrition and Health Survey of Chinese Residents" was conducted nationwide from August to December 2002. The 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey of Chinese Residents was the first time in China to combine nutrition and epidemiological surveys of chronic non-communicable diseases as a comprehensive health survey project. It featured a large sample size, broad coverage, rigorous sampling design, and national representativeness. The survey included rich content, standardized methods, and abundant information. It involved multi-departmental and multi-disciplinary collaboration, combining preventive and clinical medicine, with full mobilization and participation from the central government to all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. This survey holds significant importance for improving the health quality of the nation, promoting sustainable national health development, and comprehensively enhancing the scientificity of health decision-making and health service levels in China. On October 12, 2004, the State Council Information Office held a press conference on the Current Status of Nutrition and Health of Chinese Residents, announcing the results of the survey, which caused a great response in society. To make full use of the information from this survey, the survey database will be made public to the public as soon as possible to achieve information sharing. The survey obtained a large amount of data and information. This report mainly provides a comprehensive report and descriptive analysis of the dietary, nutritional status, and prevalence rates of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and abnormal blood lipid levels obtained from this survey. Results regarding dietary and nutrient intake of Chinese residents of different ages, regions, and economic levels, residents' physical fitness and nutritional status, behaviors and lifestyles, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, abnormal blood lipid levels, metabolic syndrome, the relationship between diet, physical activity and chronic diseases, economic burden, and related policies will be published and released in the form of monographs in due course.