Qiao Wenxue, a telecommunications engineer in the northern China province of Hebei, has been to the hospital three times this winter for treatment of respiratory infections, which seems too much frequent for his age.

Even when he is not sick in bed, the 32-year-old is always afflicted with fatigue, insomnia and constipation. "I know these are warning signals of poor immunity, but most of my colleagues are having the same problems," he said.

Experts with the Chinese Academy of Sciences say Qiao is suffering from "sub-health", a condition that is not classified as disease, but still calls for treatment.

Over 70 percent of residents in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are afflicted with sub-health, according to a survey conducted in July 2002 by a Chinese health organization on 16 Chinese cities with population exceeding 1 million.

The "sub-healthy" accounted for 75.3 percent of the residents in the nation's capital Beijing.

"About 20 percent of Chinese under 40 are suffering from sub-health and some of them have already shown symptoms of slight heart disease," said Hong Zhaoguang, a cardiovascular specialist dedicated to promoting health education in China.

Young and middle-aged Chinese are under more pressure than their parents' generation in a fast-paced society with intense competition and more subtle interpersonal relations. "Many people overwork themselves in order to stand out among their peers and make more money," said Chen Xiaojie, who works for an advertising firm based in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province.

The 28-year-old advertising copy writer said he always felt exhausted after work. "Nearly all employers say explicitly in recruitment ads that they want people under 35, even 30. I'll lose out if I don't work hard enough."

Except for overwork, nutritionists say unhealthy diet is also to blame for the young people's health problem.

"Many young people have replaced traditional Chinese diet that is rich in vegetables and grains with high-calorie hamburgers, fried chicken and potato chips," said Deng Changying, a physician with a Beijing-based hospital of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force.

Deng warns that China is probably repeating problems in the West in this respect. "High-calorie fast food has caused juvenile obesity, and the young and middle-aged are getting flabby with less time for exercise and more time sitting in front of the television or computer."

Worried by their health problems, many young people are buying health products and seeking help from traditional Chinese herbalists.

Bo Jinghua, a herbalist in Shijiazhuang, said one third of his patients were in their 20s or 30s, most of whom were suffering from mental problems such as depression, rather than physical illnesses.

In some Chinese cities, middle-aged people at the peak of their careers are even seeking an early retirement in consideration of their health. "It's worthwhile to exchange a longer life with less money," they all say.

Sub-health among the young and middle-aged has aroused concern among medical experts, who are calling on people to take regular health checks and be on guard against various diseases that are traditionally believed to be preserve of older people.

"We have to ensure good health of the younger generation, so that they can play their role today and remain healthy senior citizens in the future," said Zhang Diankui, deputy mayor of Shijiazhuang.

China established the first recuperation center for the sub-healthy at the end of 2002 in the northern port city Tianjin.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2003)