Soaring medical costs

Chronic illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, are now the leading causes of global mortality. The number of Chinese affected by these "noncommunicable" diseases has climbed to 260 million, and they now account for 85 percent of all deaths in the country every year, according to statistics published by the World Bank.

"The cost to the country of providing medicine and treatment nearly tripled from 2000 to 2009, and chronic diseases were the main cause," said Mao Zhengzhong, deputy director of the China Health Economics Association, who added that nearly 60,000 Chinese people have at least one risk factor related to chronic diseases.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the Chinese population is aging. The World Bank estimates that the number of Chinese age 65 or older will hit 240 million by 2030, double the figure in 2010, which will result in the economic burden caused by chronic diseases rising by 40 percent.

However, an aging society is just one cause, and other factors, such as lifestyle, also play important roles. In 2012, the average daily salt intake in China was 10.5 grams per person, nearly double the 6 grams recommended by the World Health Organization.

"Research showed that 8.5 million deaths could be avoided in 23 low-and middle-income countries in 10 years if the daily average salt intake declined by 15 percent," Mao said. "If concerted action were taken, the future effects would be very positive."

On July 1, the National Health and Family Planning Commission published a report that showed the proportion of overweight adults has risen by 32 percent, while the number of obese adults has risen by 67 percent, compared with 2002. The condition of children between ages 6 and 17 was even more alarming, with the number of overweight children doubling, and the child-obesity rate tripling.

According to Mao, this "invisible epidemic" is an under-appreciated cause of poverty and hampers economic development. The burden is growing, and factors such as smoking, excessive use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and low levels of physical activity are becoming increasingly important.

According to the report, 81.3 percent of Chinese children had levels of exercise that were classed as low or insufficient in 2012. At the same time, 9.3 percent of the population age 18 and older admitted to indulging in heavy, episodic drinking or unhealthy use of alcohol.

Compared with 2002, the consumption of cooking oil and animal foodstuffs, mainly fatty pork, has risen substantially, and accounts for nearly 33 percent of the average person's overall daily intake, far higher than the recommended 25 percent, the report said.