China And Obesity

China has the largest atheist population in the world.^[1] In 2014, the British medical journal Lancet reported that the Chinese now have the second highest obesity rate in the world.^[2][3] A recent study published in the Obesity Reviews journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of diabetes was four times that of their American peers.^[4]

In 2014, it was reported that China's obesity rate has skyrocketed in the last 30 years and the Chinese now have the second highest obesity rate in the world.^[5][6] The Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 that China had approximately 300 million overweight people.^[7] In 2014, the British medical journal Lancet analyzed weight trends in 188 countries and reported that more than 28% of Chinese adult men and 27% of the country's adult women are now overweight or obese.^[8]

According to a 2012 report by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of obese children in China has reached 120 million.^[9] A recent study published in the Obesity Reviews journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of diabetes was four times that of their American peers.^[10] Due to their past one-child policy, which had exceptions, China now has a lot of over-pampered and over-fed children.^[11]

Matthew Crabbe, co-author of "Fat China: How Expanding Waistlines are Changing a Nation" declared that China's surging rate of obesity is "a ticking bomb" underneath the country's future economic growth and healthcare system.^[12]

In 2014, The Economist declared in an article entitled Chubby little emperors:

China and Western style food restaurants and China has rapidly become the largest beer market[edit]

In China, there is a growing amount of westernized style food establishments that can be found in most reasonably size cities.^[14] In addition, China has rapidly become the largest market for beer and soda.^[15]

All you can eat buffets in China[edit]

All you can eat buffets in China are called 自助餐 (zi zhu can). They typically have Western food as well as Chinese food and are found in large cities such Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Qingdao, etc.^[16]

In the Grand View Mall Guangzhou, China they have a place called Las Vegas Buffet. In Guangzhou, they also have several Brazilian meat buffets where they come patrons tables and slice meat of a skewer (This also includes an all you can eat buffet).^[17]

Atheism and obesity[edit]

According to the Gallup Inc., "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."^[18]

See also: Atheism and obesity

The current atheist population mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.^[19] See: Global atheism and Western atheism and race

Secular Europe has significant problems with obesity (see: Secular Europe and obesity).

In the United States at the present time, the greater the degree of irreligiosity in a generation, the higher their obesity rate is.

According to the Gallup Inc., "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."^[20]

In addition, a significant number of prominent atheists are overweight (see: Atheism and obesity).

China, atheism, growth of Christianity and obesity[edit]

See also: Atheism and obesity

China has the world's largest atheist population.^[21][22] According to a 2012 Worldwide Independent Network/Gallup International Association (WIN/GIA) poll, 47% of Chinese people were convinced atheists, and a further 30% were not religious. In comparison, only 14% considered themselves to be religious.^[23] See: China and atheism

Chinese communist Mao Zedong wearing a swimming suit.

Obesity is positively associated with impulsiveness, lower self-discipline and neuroticism.^[24] In the journal article Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications, psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.^[25][26] Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in Psychological Science found that religion replenishes self-control.^[27][28] Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.^[29][30] Accordingly, one of the positive effects of the Christianization of China which is presently occurring (see: Global Christianity) is the positive effect it has on people's health practices (see also: Atheism and health).

Many nations with a Christian heritage or who are increasingly adopting Christianity are prosperous due to the contributions that Christianity brings to science, technology, economics and a nation's work ethic (see: Christianity and science and Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Atheism and economics).^[31] It is often thought that the increased prosperity of Chins is significantly due to its increased Christianization.^[32] While increased wealth and education has the potential improve a person's health (better quality of food, increased education about nutrition, etc.), some individuals abuse their economic prosperity which can have a negative effect on their health (see: Western ungodliness, prosperity, decadence and obesity).

For more information, please see: Atheism and obesity

See also[edit]

• Secular Europe and obesity
• Soviet Union and obesity
• Irreligious Vietnam and obesity
• Chinese communism, Pol Pot's communist regime and cannibalism

Various generations and rates of irreligion/obesity:

• Millennials, irreligion and obesity

• Generation X, irreligion and obesity

• Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity

External links[edit]

• Chubby China: Nation of 300 Million Overweight People - Wall Street Journal - 2014 video

• How Some Chinese Kids Shed The Pounds (PHOTOS) - Huffington Post, 8/7/2014 article with photos

• Chubby little emperors - The Economist, June 2014

• China’s Obesity Problem Reaches Supersize Proportions - Wharton School of Management, Dec 19, 2012

• Child Obesity Reaches 120 Million in China - 8/2012 video

• Rising Chinese Child Obesity and Fat Camps - 2007 video

Notes[edit]