Dietary Patterns and Cardiometabolic Health in Chinese Adults

Dietary habits in China have undergone rapid transformation over the past three decades, shifting from predominantly plant‐based, rice-centred traditions towards greater consumption of animal products, processed foods and refined carbohydrates. This nutrition transition has been paralleled by a rise in obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes. In Chinese adults, distinct dietary patterns have been identified—such as a traditional southern pattern rich in rice, vegetables and pork; a modern pattern high in fast foods, dairy and pastries; and a meat-centred pattern emphasising livestock and organ meats. Adherence to traditional patterns is generally associated with lower blood pressure, healthier lipid profiles and reduced waist circumference, whereas modern and meat-centred patterns tend to elevate cardiometabolic risk. Intervention studies tailored to Chinese food culture have begun to translate these observational insights into practice, demonstrating that culturally appropriate diets can improve blood lipids, glucose control, blood pressure and body composition. Understanding how combinations of foods interact to influence insulin sensitivity, vascular function and inflammatory pathways remains crucial for designing public health strategies, guiding dietary recommendations and curbing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in China and beyond.

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Dietary Patterns and Cardiometabolic Health in Chinese Adults publication trend

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Technical terms

Dietary pattern: The overall combination, frequency and quantities of foods habitually consumed, identified through statistical methods such as factor or cluster analysis.

Cardiometabolic health: A composite of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, including blood pressure, lipid profiles, glucose metabolism and measures of adiposity.

Dyslipidaemia: A condition characterised by abnormal concentrations of blood lipids, such as elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides or reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

References

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2. Reducing cardiometabolic disease risk dietary pattern in the Chinese population with dyslipidemia: a single-center, open-label, randomized, dietary intervention study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2025).
3. Exploring the traditional Chinese diet and its association with health status—a systematic review. Nutrition Reviews (2024).