Malnutrition And Nutrition-Related Health Disparities in China

Abstract

Does China have problems link to malnutrition? With explicit focuses on the Chinese population, this paper conducts a systematic review of malnutrition and nutrition-related health disparities in China. It was observed that there were remarkable reductions in malnutrition, but most reductions were related to undernutrition. Moreover, China is currently going through a nutrition transition and it is facing more forms of malnutrition than ever before. Undernutrition still sparks concern and overnutrition increases rapidly. In addition, it is the combination of social, economic, political, and environmental factors shaped nutrition-related health disparities among the Chinese population. Some groups, especially the rural poor, are extremely vulnerable. This paper indicates that while current health care and nutrition policies are creditable, they did not play their maximum efficacy. Current nutrition and health-related policies need to be improved and adjusted to reduce malnutrition and to promote equity in nutrition and health. Specifically, controlling the costs of health care, reducing relative poverty, promoting lifestyle education, loosening or abandoning the Hukou system, strictly supervising the implementation of National Nutrition Plan (2017-2030) at local level, and strengthening the vertical coherence within the nutritional governance system should be taken into consideration.