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Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal Heat and adult health in China

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Mueller V, Gray C
2018
Population and Environment. 40 (1): 1-26

Given projected increases in the frequency of precipitation and temperature extremes in China, we examine the extent adults may be vulnerable to climate anomalies. We link nutrition, health, and economic data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1989-2011) to gridded climate data to identify which socioeconomic outcomes are particularly susceptible, including adult underweight incidence, body mass index, dietary intake, physical activity, illness, income, and food prices. We find warm temperatures augment the probability of being underweight among adults, with a particularly large impact for the elderly (ages > 60). Extremely dry and warm conditions produce a 3.3-percentage point increase in underweight status for this group. Consequences on nutrition coincide with changes in illness rather than dietary, income or purchasing power shifts. Social protection targeting areas prone to excessive heat may consider supplementing bundles of goods with a suite of health care provisions catering to the elderly.

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Resource Description

    Food Security, Precipitation, Temperature
    • Food Security, Precipitation, Temperature: Availability/Distribution
    • Food Security, Precipitation, Temperature: Heat
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Asia
    Malnutrition, Temperature-Related Health Impact
    • Malnutrition, Temperature-Related Health Impact: Heat-Related Health Impact
    Research Article
    Economic Impact, Vulnerable Population
    • Economic Impact, Vulnerable Population: Elderly
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