Beijing will put 100 thousand health waistline rulers on special shelves in 60 supermarkets to help the citizens gain a better understanding of their health.

Many Beijing people are overweight, and is led to a high incidence of diabetes and hypertension. Currently, 7.7% of Beijing people have fallen victim to diabetes, 2% higher than the national figure. Research shows that the excessive fat in the waist has a lot to do with many diseases like diabetes.

Thus Beijing has decided to send health waistline rulers as presents to citizens, together with 100 thousand health pamphlets.

(chinanews.cn December 31, 2006)