Intra-Individual Double Burden of Malnutrition among Adults in China: Evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 2015

Abstract

Few studies have focused on quantifying the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) phenomenon in China. We aimed to clarify the prevalence of DBM among Chinese adults as well as to examine whether usual daily dietary micronutrient status varies by body mass index (BMI) categories. In this study, a sample of 6602 adults aged 18–59 years from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) was analyzed. Information was obtained on dietary intake and anthropometric measurements. Dietary intakes of 11 micronutrients were estimated based on the data collected by three consecutive days of 24 h recalls combined with the weighing of household seasonings. Dietary micronutrient deficiency was defined according to the cutoff of the Chinese estimated average requirement (EARs). 44% of Chinese adults faced the problem of DBM, of which nearly 40% experienced overweight/obesity and micronutrient deficiency simultaneously. Comparable percentages (>50%) of Chinese adults had dietary intake less than the Chinese EARs for key micronutrients including retinol, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin C, calcium, selenium, zinc, and magnesium, and the percentages varied by body weight status. More than 80% participants had at least two selected vitamin or mineral deficiencies in all BMI categories. These findings indicate that Chinese adults have a high DBM and micronutrient inadequacies prevail among and within gender and all BMI categories. All body weight groups need advice on the changing needs for dietary variety to ensure optimal health.

Towards Sustainable Diets: Understanding the Cognitive Mechanism of Consumer Acceptance of Biofortified Foods and the Role of Nutrition Information

“…Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious problem in China as 200 million Chinese continue to suffer from micronutrient deficiencies [17]. A recent study found that Chinese adults (18-59 years old) have poorer diets and their intake is much lower than the estimated average requirements for several key micronutrients [18]. Biofortified crops are rich in micronutrients and can help alleviate China's micronutrient malnutrition.…”

Prevalence and Determinants of the Co-Occurrence of Overweight or Obesity and Micronutrient Deficiencies among Adults in the Philippines: Results from a National Representative Survey

“…Limited research has been conducted at the individual level. Moreover, the published literature on individual-level DBM among adults has mainly examined the co-occurrence of overweight/obesity and anemia or vitamin A deficiency [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Characterizing DBM using anemia and vitamin A deficiency as the only measures of micronutrient deficiency may be constrained because, in other countries, iodine deficiency is also of public health significance.…”

Spatial distribution and driving factors determining local food and feed self‐sufficiency in the eastern regions of China

“…This soybean situation is different, as China is not sharply self‐sufficient in this area: China imported approximately 9.8 × 10 7 tons of soybeans, which was 7.5 times its internal production, indicating a severe deficiency in this commodity (Wu et al, 2020). Although most food or feed is basically self‐sufficient from the viewpoint of fewer imports from the international market, previous studies have shown that a large proportion of the population, especially in rural areas, experiences a deficiency of nutrients (Huang et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2016).…”