The National Health Commission and 13 other departments recently released the "Action Plan for Promoting the 'Five Healths' of Children and Adolescents (2026-2030)". The five-year action plan focuses on strengthening the prevention and control of five problems among children and adolescents: obesity, myopia, abnormal psychological and behavioral issues, abnormal spinal curvature, and dental caries. It proposes a series of hard targets and clarifies the responsibilities of all parties.
The Action Plan sets out quantitative targets and specific tasks for these five health issues:
01
Weight more than expected
Data shows that the current overweight and obesity rate among children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 in my country is about 19%. To ensure that primary and secondary school students have no less than 2 hours of comprehensive physical activity every day, and to promote the construction of healthy canteens and restaurants in primary and secondary schools, the goal is to achieve a national student physical fitness standard compliance rate of over 60% by 2030.
02
Brighter eyes
In 2025, the overall myopia rate among children and adolescents nationwide was 51.2%. The Action Plan requires refractive screening for preschool children at 24 months, 36 months, 4 years, 5 years, and 6 years of age, monitoring of hyperopic reserve, and in-depth implementation of the "Bright School Project," ensuring that classroom lighting in primary and secondary schools fully meets standards. By 2030, the myopia rate among 6-year-old children should be controlled at around 3%, the myopia rate among primary school students should be reduced to below 32%, the myopia rate among junior high school students should be reduced to below 60%, and the myopia rate among senior high school students should be reduced to below 70%.
03
More positive mindset
Currently, the mental health issues of primary and secondary school students are receiving increasing attention from society. By 2030, the proportion of children aged 0 to 6 years old undergoing psychological and behavioral development monitoring should reach 90%, and schools should be fully equipped with mental health education teachers.
04
Stronger bones
Schools should conduct a spinal curvature abnormality screening and assessment for children and adolescents aged 10 to 16 once a year. By 2030, spinal curvature abnormality screening will be universally implemented among primary and secondary school students.
05
Better oral health
Relevant medical and health institutions will assist primary and secondary schools in conducting routine oral examinations for students once a year. By 2030, dental caries in 5-year-old and 12-year-old children will be effectively prevented.
Huang Xin, Deputy Director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health of the National Health Commission: Children and adolescents' health is a systematic project. In terms of working mechanisms, we need to continuously improve the mechanisms of collaboration between medical institutions and schools, integration of health and sports, joint education by families and schools, and joint governance by society. Medical institutions, families, communities, and schools should all perform their respective duties and work together to form a closed loop in the management of children and adolescents' health.
Promote the prevention and management of multiple diseases, and share responsibilities between families and schools.
In recent years, obesity, myopia, psychological and behavioral abnormalities, scoliosis, and dental caries among children and adolescents have received considerable attention. While these five issues may seem unrelated at first glance, their risk factors actually overlap significantly. Lack of exercise, unhealthy diets, insufficient sleep, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits all negatively impact children's health in multiple ways. A relevant official from the National Health Commission stated that the "Five Healths" promotion initiative aims to advance the prevention and management of multiple diseases simultaneously, providing comprehensive support and protection across the entire chain.
Huang Xin, Deputy Director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health of the National Health Commission: At the forefront, we must first strengthen prevention efforts. Addressing the common risk factors for these health problems, we need to enhance health education, promote physical exercise, healthy diets, and sufficient sleep, guiding children to develop healthy lifestyles to minimize the occurrence of these health problems at their source. Based on this, we also need to strengthen the establishment of a comprehensive service network encompassing prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation management.
The Action Plan proposes to encourage schools to establish "campus health corners," providing items such as scales, height charts, vision charts, and disposable dental examination kits; to guide families in equipping themselves with health tools such as scales, salt-control spoons, sugar-limited snack boxes, and toothbrush timers; to support communities in establishing "health stations," providing health services such as weight measurement, vision screening, psychological assessment, physical fitness monitoring, and dental caries checks; and to promote the construction of child-friendly hospitals, setting up "care spaces" for children and improving pediatric and specialized services in areas such as children's nutrition, eye care, mental health, and oral health. Relevant medical and health institutions should establish counterpart liaison mechanisms with kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in their jurisdictions, and support medical and health personnel to serve as vice principals for health in kindergartens and primary and secondary schools.
Mental health problems should be addressed starting in preschool.
Regarding the mental health issues of children and adolescents, the "Five Healths" Promotion Action Plan proposed this time put forward a systematic intervention strategy, shifting from "passive response" to "proactive promotion".
The Action Plan proposes to promote the psychological and behavioral development of preschool children. Primary healthcare institutions should conduct developmental assessments of children aged 0-6 to identify children with abnormal psychological and behavioral development early, and strengthen referrals and follow-ups. All regions should actively promote autism screening and intervention services for children aged 0-6, provide rehabilitation and assistance services to eligible autistic children, and encourage schools to employ full-time mental health education teachers with psychology backgrounds for primary and secondary school students. Primary and secondary schools should conduct at least one mental health lecture or related educational activity each academic year. The Action Plan also promotes the use of mental health service packages for children and adolescents, strengthening peer psychological support and education. Finally, it promotes the application of the psychological assistance hotline "12356" and the youth service hotline "12355".
