During break time, secondary school students crowd round food stalls, buying fried chicken wings, crisps and other fatty snacks. Children are taller and fatter than they used to be. But their cholesterol levels are amongst the highest in the world and obesity is being seen as the top health risk. They don't see it as a problem. Traditionally, little fat babies are loved and thought to be healthy.
Parents are very proud that their children are a bit podgy.
Because they are fat when they are little, they grow up into little fat kindergarten children, become fat primary schoolchildren and this goes on. In fact, the parents may be quite fat. Busy fast food restaurants are part of the problem. With both parents often working full-time, the traditional Chinese diet with several shared dishes is being swapped for convenience foods. She says many children eat alone in the evening, choosing fatty western food which is fashionable and high status.