Dietary choice and health behaviors in eastern Chinese women: a descriptive, population-based survey and review of public health data.

Abstract

Urbanization in China has increased the prevalence of high-fat and low-fiber diets, and of adverse health behaviors associated with an increased risk of diet-related, non-communicable diseases (DR-NCDs) in eastern Chinese women. This study aimed to characterize the dietary intake and health behaviors in eastern Chinese women. Retrospective data of 122,058 women aged 25 to 70 who completed a multi-staged, stratified, cluster sampling epidemiological survey in eastern China in 2008, including self-report of diet and lifestyle information (sleep, physical activity, work, etc.). The survey included food groups (on a 4-point scale from daily to rarely) and health behaviors. Of 122,058 surveyed women, 2008 (1.6%) smoked tobacco, 4326 (3.5%) consumed alcohol, 10,274 (8.4%) reported insomnia, and 38,305 (31.4%) exercised regularly. Consumption was most commonly reported as daily for vegetables/fruits (68.1%); 3-4/week for garlic (31.7%); 1-2/week for bean products (39.4%), red meat (40.8%), corn (36.6%), and carrots (41.9%); and rarely for milk products (46.4%), fried food (42.1%) and charcuterie (55.8%). This study suggests some overall positive lower rates of tobacco use, alcohol consumption and insomnia than reported previously, but physical exercise was also decreased. Dietary habits were relatively healthy.