One in Five Beijingers is Obese: City Government

More than one in five Beijingers is obese, the Beijing Municipal Government Commission of Health and Family Planning announced.

That mark is a new high, hitting 22 percent in 2014. That rate is up from 19 percent in 2011, CRI reported. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and does not include people who rank as "overweight" according to the BMI.

People classified as obese are more susceptible health problems such as type-2 diabetes and heart disease.

Officials blame an increasingly sedentary lifestyle for the problem and encouraged Beijingers to be more active.

Photo: The Daily Telegraph