The Review of Causes of Obesity Rate Differences Between Chinese Students: From Socioeconomic Perspective
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The Review of Causes of Obesity Rate Differences Between Chinese Students: From Socioeconomic Perspective

Yun Cui 1* Zihang Wang 2, Tianhao Zhang 3, Jiajun Han 4
1 Nanjing Medical University
2 University of Washington
3 Shenzhen Nanshan Concord College of Sino-Canada
4 Shanghai International High School of BANZ
*Corresponding author: 2390315634@qq.com
Published on 11 July 2025
Volume Cover
LNEP Vol.108
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-277-5
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-278-2
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Abstract

Obesity, recognized as a chronic disease, imposes enormous economic and health burdens on Chinese society. In examining obesity rates across various age groups in China, this study identifies a paradox: An observation has been made that obesity rates among university students are comparatively lower than those seen in high school. Despite extensive research on the factors contributing to obesity and strategies for its reduction, there has been limited exploration into why university students are less affected by obesity than high school students. This paper addresses this gap by conducting a comprehensive review of the literature, focusing on socioeconomic status (SES) as a critical factor. We categorize the determinants of this phenomenon into external factors, such as urban-rural disparities, income, and educational attainment, and internal factors, including gender differences and behavioral responses to stress. By offering academic insights and policy implications, this review aims to contribute to the early prevention and management of obesity, ultimately improving public health in China.

Keywords:

Obesity, Socioeconomic Status, Policy guidance.

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Cui,Y.;Wang,Z.;Zhang,T.;Han,J. (2025). The Review of Causes of Obesity Rate Differences Between Chinese Students: From Socioeconomic Perspective. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,108,47-52.

References

[1]. Zhang, H. , Xu, H. , Song, F. , Xu, W. , Pallard-Borg, S. , & Qi, X. (2017). Relation of socioeconomic status to overweight and obesity: a large population-based study of Chinese adults.  Annals of Human Biology,  44(6), 495–501.

[2]. Li Yaoyue, Wang Guixin. The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Obesity Among Chinese Residents [J]. Population and Development, 2022, 28(05): 107-125.

[3]. Mao Fengfu, Yao Jianfeng. Urbanization and "Fat China": Income, Income Inequality, and BMI [J]. Business Economics and Management, 2015, (04): 84-96. DOI:10. 14134/j. cnki. cn33-1336/f. 2015. 04. 009.

[4]. Liang Y, Qi Y. Developmental trajectories of adolescent overweight/obesity in China: socio-economic status correlates and health consequences. Public Health. 2020 Aug;185:246-253. doi: 10. 1016/j. puhe. 2020. 05. 013. Epub 2020 Jul 17. PMID: 32688100.

[5]. WU Qiuxiang, CUI Sheng. Road to "Counterattacks" of Rural Students at Universities: An Empirical Study Based on Beijing College Students Panel Survey. Journal of East China Normal University (Educational Sciences), 2019, 37(1): 124-136. DOI: 10. 16382/j. cnki. 1000-5560. 2019. 01. 014.

[6]. He, Z. (2007). An Analysis of the Affordability of Higher Education Costs for Rural Families in China [J]. Problems of Agricultural Economy, (06), 40-43+111.

[7]. Han, R. (2011). A Study on the Relationship Between Rural Household Income and Higher Education Expenditure: A Case Study of 300 Samples in County S, Shanxi Province [D]. Henan: Henan Normal University. DOI:10. 7666/d. Y1960945.

[8]. Rogol, A. D. , Clark, P. A. , & Roemmich, J. N. (2000). Growth and pubertal development in children and adolescents: Effects of diet and physical activity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(2), 521S-528S. https://doi. org/10. 1093/ajcn/72. 2. 521S

[9]. Guo, S. S. (2016). The timing and tempo of puberty in relation to body composition in youth. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1382(1), 44-54.

[10]. Biro, F. M. , & Wien, M. (2010). Childhood obesity and adult morbidities. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(5), 1499S-1505S. https://doi. org/10. 3945/ajcn. 2010. 28701B

[11]. Ahmed, M. L. , Ong, K. K. , & Dunger, D. B. (2009). Childhood obesity and the timing of puberty. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 20(5), 237-242.

[12]. James, W. P. T. , Leach, R. , Kalamara, E. , & Shayeghi, M. (1999). The worldwide obesity epidemic. Obesity Research, 7(S1), 1S-4S.

[13]. Zhang, Y. , & Wang, S. (2010). Socio-cultural influences on physical health: Body image and body weight in Chinese society. Journal of Health Psychology, 15(8), 1077-1085.

[14]. Jiang, J. , Xia, Q. , & Ding, X. (2018). Gender differences in emotional eating among Chinese adolescents: The role of self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. Eating Behaviors, 31, 80-85.

[15]. Liu, Y. , & Fang, H. (2016). Chinese adolescents' weight perception and psychological well-being: The role of cultural factors. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 10, 29. https://doi. org/10. 1186/s13034-016-0119-3

[16]. Wang, Y. , Mi, J. , Shan, X. , Wang, Q. J. , & Ge, K. Y. (2018). Is China facing an obesity epidemic and the consequences? The trends of obesity and chronic disease in China. International Journal of Obesity, 31(1), 177-188. https://doi. org/10. 1038/sj. ijo. 0803354

[17]. Sun, J. , & Dunne, M. P. (2011). The influence of student lifestyle factors on stress and academic performance in Chinese adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(6), 670-679.

[18]. Liu, Y. , Sun, J. , & Dunne, M. P. (2023). Academic stress and eating behaviors in Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of emotional eating. Eating Behaviors, 41, 101482.

[19]. Chen, X. , Sekine, M. , Hamanishi, S. , Yamagami, T. , & Kagamimori, S. (2020). The association between stress and eating behaviors among students in China. Nutritional Neuroscience, 23(10), 751-759. https://doi. org/10. 1080/1028415X. 2019. 1706105

[20]. Xie, J. , Wang, J. , & Zhang, S. (2023). Adolescent stress and its association with stress-related eating behaviors and weight gain: A cross-sectional study in China. Nutrients, 15(2), 272. 2

[21]. Zhang, R. (2017). An Investigation of Obesity Rates and Influencing Factors Among University Students in Four Different Universities in Shenyang [C]//Chinese Society of Exercise Physiology, Proceedings of the 2017 Academic Symposium on "Student Physical Health and Exercise Physiology". Shenyang Sport University, 2017:2.

[22]. Liang, J. , Zhang, F. , Pan, W. , et al. (2008). An Investigation and Analysis of University Students' Cognition of Obesity and Weight Loss Behavior [J]. Modern Preventive Medicine, (15), 2918-2919

References

[1]. Zhang, H. , Xu, H. , Song, F. , Xu, W. , Pallard-Borg, S. , & Qi, X. (2017). Relation of socioeconomic status to overweight and obesity: a large population-based study of Chinese adults.  Annals of Human Biology,  44(6), 495–501.

[2]. Li Yaoyue, Wang Guixin. The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Obesity Among Chinese Residents [J]. Population and Development, 2022, 28(05): 107-125.

[3]. Mao Fengfu, Yao Jianfeng. Urbanization and "Fat China": Income, Income Inequality, and BMI [J]. Business Economics and Management, 2015, (04): 84-96. DOI:10. 14134/j. cnki. cn33-1336/f. 2015. 04. 009.

[4]. Liang Y, Qi Y. Developmental trajectories of adolescent overweight/obesity in China: socio-economic status correlates and health consequences. Public Health. 2020 Aug;185:246-253. doi: 10. 1016/j. puhe. 2020. 05. 013. Epub 2020 Jul 17. PMID: 32688100.

[5]. WU Qiuxiang, CUI Sheng. Road to "Counterattacks" of Rural Students at Universities: An Empirical Study Based on Beijing College Students Panel Survey. Journal of East China Normal University (Educational Sciences), 2019, 37(1): 124-136. DOI: 10. 16382/j. cnki. 1000-5560. 2019. 01. 014.

[6]. He, Z. (2007). An Analysis of the Affordability of Higher Education Costs for Rural Families in China [J]. Problems of Agricultural Economy, (06), 40-43+111.

[7]. Han, R. (2011). A Study on the Relationship Between Rural Household Income and Higher Education Expenditure: A Case Study of 300 Samples in County S, Shanxi Province [D]. Henan: Henan Normal University. DOI:10. 7666/d. Y1960945.

[8]. Rogol, A. D. , Clark, P. A. , & Roemmich, J. N. (2000). Growth and pubertal development in children and adolescents: Effects of diet and physical activity. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(2), 521S-528S. https://doi. org/10. 1093/ajcn/72. 2. 521S

[9]. Guo, S. S. (2016). The timing and tempo of puberty in relation to body composition in youth. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1382(1), 44-54.

[10]. Biro, F. M. , & Wien, M. (2010). Childhood obesity and adult morbidities. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(5), 1499S-1505S. https://doi. org/10. 3945/ajcn. 2010. 28701B

[11]. Ahmed, M. L. , Ong, K. K. , & Dunger, D. B. (2009). Childhood obesity and the timing of puberty. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 20(5), 237-242.

[12]. James, W. P. T. , Leach, R. , Kalamara, E. , & Shayeghi, M. (1999). The worldwide obesity epidemic. Obesity Research, 7(S1), 1S-4S.

[13]. Zhang, Y. , & Wang, S. (2010). Socio-cultural influences on physical health: Body image and body weight in Chinese society. Journal of Health Psychology, 15(8), 1077-1085.

[14]. Jiang, J. , Xia, Q. , & Ding, X. (2018). Gender differences in emotional eating among Chinese adolescents: The role of self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. Eating Behaviors, 31, 80-85.

[15]. Liu, Y. , & Fang, H. (2016). Chinese adolescents' weight perception and psychological well-being: The role of cultural factors. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 10, 29. https://doi. org/10. 1186/s13034-016-0119-3

[16]. Wang, Y. , Mi, J. , Shan, X. , Wang, Q. J. , & Ge, K. Y. (2018). Is China facing an obesity epidemic and the consequences? The trends of obesity and chronic disease in China. International Journal of Obesity, 31(1), 177-188. https://doi. org/10. 1038/sj. ijo. 0803354

[17]. Sun, J. , & Dunne, M. P. (2011). The influence of student lifestyle factors on stress and academic performance in Chinese adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(6), 670-679.

[18]. Liu, Y. , Sun, J. , & Dunne, M. P. (2023). Academic stress and eating behaviors in Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of emotional eating. Eating Behaviors, 41, 101482.

[19]. Chen, X. , Sekine, M. , Hamanishi, S. , Yamagami, T. , & Kagamimori, S. (2020). The association between stress and eating behaviors among students in China. Nutritional Neuroscience, 23(10), 751-759. https://doi. org/10. 1080/1028415X. 2019. 1706105

[20]. Xie, J. , Wang, J. , & Zhang, S. (2023). Adolescent stress and its association with stress-related eating behaviors and weight gain: A cross-sectional study in China. Nutrients, 15(2), 272. 2

[21]. Zhang, R. (2017). An Investigation of Obesity Rates and Influencing Factors Among University Students in Four Different Universities in Shenyang [C]//Chinese Society of Exercise Physiology, Proceedings of the 2017 Academic Symposium on "Student Physical Health and Exercise Physiology". Shenyang Sport University, 2017:2.

[22]. Liang, J. , Zhang, F. , Pan, W. , et al. (2008). An Investigation and Analysis of University Students' Cognition of Obesity and Weight Loss Behavior [J]. Modern Preventive Medicine, (15), 2918-2919

Cite this article

Cui,Y.;Wang,Z.;Zhang,T.;Han,J. (2025). The Review of Causes of Obesity Rate Differences Between Chinese Students: From Socioeconomic Perspective. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,108,47-52.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Global Politics and Socio-Humanities

ISBN: 978-1-80590-277-5(Print) / 978-1-80590-278-2(Online)
Editor: Enrique Mallen
Conference website: https://2024.icgpsh.org/
Conference date: 20 December 2024
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.108
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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