Nutrition among students improving

The ministry also requires all students from primary schools to colleges to participate in physical exercise for at least an hour every day by making exercise during class breaks part of the school syllabus.

"More than 14,000 schools that promote playing soccer have been established in the country. These are aimed at inspiring students to participate more in physical exercise and become healthier," Hao said.

However, health experts said that there are still areas that need addressing, such as inadequate sleep, obesity and shortsightedness.

Among students aged 7 to 12 in urban areas, 18 percent of boys and nearly 10 percent of girls are obese, according to a survey jointly conducted by the General Administration of Sport of China and the Ministry of Education, which was released in November last year.

Last year's survey also found that more than 30 percent of 7-year-olds have myopia.

China has made significant progress in promoting fitness programs among the public in the past few years. By the end of 2014, more than 33.9 percent of the population said they exercise frequently, an increase of 5.7 percentage points from 2007, said Yang Shu'an, deputy head of the General Administration of Sport of China.

The country has released its latest National Fitness Plan (2016-20), hoping to promote overall health development, Yang said.