Dietary pattern and physical development in China-- based on the 1992 national nutrition survey.

Based on information gathered in the l992 Chinese national nutrition survey, the energy consumption on average is about adequate for the whole population. Dietary protein and fat have increased, and now provide 11.8% and 22.0%, respectively, of the total dietary energy. The adequacy of nutrient intake, expressed as percentages of RDA, is higher for urban populations than for rural, and higher for high income groups than for low income groups. Child growth has improved substantially compared to ten years ago. However, there are still 32.6% of preschool children with stunted growth and 17.7% are underweight. Rural children have a higher incidence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) than their urban counterparts. The improvement in children's growth and the increase of overweight adults are in line with the country's overall food production and the average food consumption of the population. The difference between urban and rural nutritional status deserves more attention.