Child Nutrition Trends Over the Past Two Decades and Challenges for Achieving Nutrition SDGs and National Targets in China

Abstract

Background: The objectives of the current study were to identify the trends in child nutrition, the gaps in achieving child nutrition-related goals, and implications for program and policy options for the Chinese government. Methods: Eight child nutrition-related indicators from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and China's national nutrition plans, and two datasets, Global Burden of Disease 2016 and Chinese National Nutrition and Health Surveillance, were used in our analysis. Results: Over the past 26 years, the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight for children under 5 years was reduced by 58.7%, 53.4%, and 69.2%, respectively. Overweight for children aged 1-4 years increased 88.9% and obesity increased 2.14 times. Exclusive breastfeeding of newborns (7-28 days) was stable, at about 30%. We estimated child wasting would be 3.0% lower than the target of 5.0% based on predictive values for meeting the SDGs in 2025. The number of stunted children under five years would be reduced by 39.7%, while overweight would increase 2.2% throughout China. Conclusion: These results highlight the urgent need for targeted policies and interventions to reduce child stunting and overweight and increase exclusive breastfeeding to improve child health and meet the SDG targets and China's national goals.

Improving maternal and child nutrition in China: an analysis of nutrition policies and programs initiated during the 2000–2015 Millennium Development Goals era and implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

“…In China, the low birth weight rate was 3.3% in 2013, in a low level [ 12 ]. The wasting rate of children under 5 years was 2.7%, which has already reached the SDG target in 2016 [ 43 ]. For child stunting and anemia in women, policies and intervention programs have achieved positive results (Table 2 ).…”

“…For child stunting and anemia in women, policies and intervention programs have achieved positive results (Table 2 ). The stunting prevalence of children under 5 years from 2000 to 2016 has achieved 41% reduction [ 43 ] and 70% and 40% reduction for anemia in lactating women and pregnant women from 2002 to 2013, respectively [ 12 ]. Therefore, the SDG nutrition targets of child stunting, low birth rate, and anemia in women in China could likely be achieved if the challenges mentioned above could be addressed with multi-sector approaches.…”

Improving maternal and child nutrition in China: An analysis of nutrition policies and programs initiated during the 2000-2015 Millennium Development Goals era and implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

“…The wasting rate of children under 5 years was 2.7%, which has already reached the SDGs target in 2016 [43] . For child stunting and anemia in women, policies and intervention programs have achieved positive results (table 2).…”

“…For child stunting and anemia in women, policies and intervention programs have achieved positive results (table 2). The stunting prevalence of children under 5 years from 2000 to 2016 has achieved 41% reduction [43] , and 70% and 40% reduction for anemia in lactating women and pregnant women from 2002 to 2013 [12] .Therefore, the SDG nutrition targets of child stunting, low-birth rate and anemia in women in China could likely be achieved if the challenges mentioned above could be addressed with multi-sector approaches.…”

“…Furthermore, this program only targeted at primary students, without obesity intervention actions for children in pre and middle school. From 2000 to 2016, the rate of overweight and obesity of children under 1-4 years has been increasing, from 9.5% and 3.9% to 11.9 % and 6.9% respectively [43] , the SDG of no increase in childhood overweight has not been achieved.…”