Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

Unbalanced food patterns have raised the proportion of overweighed children to one-third of the total in Shanghai, the Wenhui Daily reported today.
Excessive intakes of fried, sweet food and carbonated drinks have caused a growing number of obese children in the city.
Two-thirds of obese children aged between 4 and 12 in Shanghai are likely to get diabetes in the future, said a medical expert.
A lack of a scientifically-determined food distribution program in the local elementary and middle schools is the main factor, said an industry analyst.
Food knowledge and eating habits will affect a child's lifelong health, the analyst pointed out, adding that the adolescent period is a key period for personal growth, so scientifically-determined food patterms and eating habits are very important.
Local schools are suggested to offer courses on eating in a scientific way so that students can get a better understanding of the relationship between food and health.