More young Chinese adults became obese

A survey of more than 43,000 adults in China found 11 percent of people ages 20-39 are obese, an increase of 2 percentage points since 2010, officials say. The General Administration of Sport survey of 10 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities also found 34.4 percent of Chinese ages 20-69 were overweight, the China Daily reported. Tian Ye, director of the China Institute of Sports Science, said the physical decline could be attributed partially to the lack of sports activities among young people. Those ages 20-39 are the least active exercisers. Fifty-one percent said they didn't exercise regularly because they didn't have time. The results also indicated waist circumferences and hiplines increased among all age groups and there was a decline among young adults to grip something, jump or maintain balance -- indicating losses of strength and flexibility. However, the general physical condition of the Chinese people was the same as in 2010. Jiang Chongmin, an executive with the National Fitness Monitoring and Researching Center, said after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the General Administration of Sport set Aug. 8 -- the opening date of the 2008 Summer Olympics -- as the annual National Fitness Day to promote grassroots fitness programs. The number of people ages 20-69 who do intense exercise three times a week rose to 32.7 percent, 4.5 percentage points up compared with 2007, the survey found.