The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposes early screening and intervention for children's myopia, overweight/obesity, and autism.

Children are the future of our country and the hope of the nation. Protecting children's health — helping them grow with bright eyes, healthy bodies, and joyful hearts — requires parents to step out of cognitive误区 and adopt scientific parenting. In light of rising childhood obesity and the high prevalence, early onset, and severity of myopia, our special feature brings you and your child this health guide for International Children's Day.

— Editor

No More "Little Chubby Kids" – Remember This Health Guide
By reporter Shen Jingran

"In recent years, we've seen a notable increase in children attending clinics for obesity. Many parents hold misconceptions, leading to delayed intervention." says Dr. Zhu Gaohui, deputy director of endocrinology at Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

How to correctly judge if a child is overweight? Many parents rely on subjective feelings, which is often inaccurate. Dr. Zhu notes that childhood obesity requires BMI assessment, but because children are developing, adult BMI cutoffs cannot be applied directly. "Standards differ by gender and age." China's screening criteria for school-age children and adolescents show refined cutoffs by sex and age, with values rising as children grow. For instance, at age 6, the overweight cutoffs for boys and girls are 16.4 and 16.2, and obesity cutoffs are 17.7 and 17.5 respectively. By age 18, overweight cutoffs reach 24.0 and obesity cutoffs 28.0 for both genders. Parents can evaluate scientifically based on age and gender. Although treatments for overweight and obesity are similar, the intensity of specific measures differs.

What causes childhood obesity? According to Dr. Zhu, the vast majority of cases boil down to "eating too much and moving too little." However, there are rarer cases involving genetics: for example, Prader-Willi syndrome, where patients never feel full and constantly crave food, making weight control extremely difficult.

Moreover, obesity doesn't just affect appearance—it harms overall physical and mental health even during childhood. Excessive weight can lead to early puberty in girls, affecting ovarian health and menstrual cycles. In boys, it may delay development and even impair reproductive organ development. Many overweight children also have advanced bone age, compromising final adult height. Obesity can also trigger psychological issues.

How to help children lose weight scientifically? "Children are growing and absolutely cannot rely on starvation diets. They must receive enough energy for development and daily learning," Dr. Zhu emphasizes. The key principle is balancing "growth" with "weight control," and the most effective approach is lifestyle modification. Key points for child-friendly weight control: scientifically control total calories, reduce high-calorie foods, and ensure balanced nutrition. Exercise burns energy but avoid high-impact activities like jumping rope early on; start with 20 minutes of low-intensity exercise and gradually increase. Running, cycling, swimming are good options. Lack of sleep and staying up late indirectly aggravate obesity by disturbing metabolism. Therefore, ensure sufficient sleep and avoid late nights.

Parents play the most critical role. Dr. Zhu warns against four common myths: first, "being chubby boosts immunity and kids will slim down naturally" – false, obesity harms health and must be actively managed. Second, relying on medication or surgery – no drugs are approved for pediatric weight loss in China; surgery is rarely recommended before adolescence. Third, emphasizing treatment over prevention – parents should focus on daily balanced diet and routines. Fourth, refusing medical help when weight spirals out of control – seek professional pediatric evaluation to avoid irreversible damage.

No More "Little Glasses" – Keep This Myopia Prevention Guide
By reporter Jiang Hongbing

"Student myopia continues to show high prevalence, early onset, and greater severity, affecting children's physical and mental health," says Dr. Zhu Jianfeng, director of Optometry Center at Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention & Treatment Center. In Shanghai, myopia rate among 6-year-olds rose from 8.5% in 2018 to 14.3% in 2024. High school myopia rate is about 85%, with over 20% having high myopia (≥600 degrees). National data from 2022 shows overall myopia rate at 51.9% – slightly lower but still high.

How to prevent childhood myopia scientifically? "Myopia is caused by both genetics and environment, with environment playing the dominant role. Genetics only determine inherent susceptibility but don't directly cause myopia. For mild myopia (parents under 300 degrees), genetic influence is minimal." Key environmental risks: less than 2 hours of daily outdoor activity, prolonged near work, excessive screen time, poor reading posture, irregular sleep, and unbalanced diet. Prevention core: preserve hyperopic reserve, increase outdoor time, control near work, and build a refractive file. Ensure 2 hours of outdoor light exposure daily – natural light stimulates retinal dopamine, effectively inhibiting axial elongation. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Children under 6 should avoid digital devices; ages 6–12 limit to ≤15 minutes per session and ≤1 hour daily. Maintain proper reading distance (33 cm). Build a personal refraction file and monitor hyperopic reserve regularly. Keep regular sleep schedule (9–11 hours per day) and reduce sugary snacks.

The golden window for myopia prevention is ages 0–6; high-risk period 6–12; critical for high myopia 13–16. If a preschooler's hyperopic reserve is below +0.75D, the risk of developing myopia within two years exceeds 60%.

How to distinguish true vs. false myopia? If a child squints, tilts head, or rubs eyes, go for cycloplegic refraction immediately. The only standard is dilated eye exam. For prescribing glasses, the principle must be "cycloplegia + comprehensive refraction + full correction." Avoid under-correction because blurred vision accelerates eye growth. Common mistakes: believing low degrees don't need glasses; wearing glasses only for distance; trusting instruments that claim to cure myopia. No non-surgical method can shorten an elongated eyeball.

Once myopia occurs, how to control progression? Dr. Zhu recommends a three‑dimensional strategy: (1) behavioral intervention – outdoor time, reduced near work, proper posture, sleep; (2) precise optical correction – peripheral defocus lenses for low myopia, or orthokeratology (OK lenses, age≥8, reduces progression by 40–50%); (3) pharmacological intervention – low-dose atropine under professional supervision. Re-examination every 3–6 months to adjust treatment.

Coordinator: Fu Mingli

People's Daily, May 28, 2026, Page 13