@Tonyaod: Obviously, what we say and/or do does change it, since the forum does not exist except for what we say and do. I don't expect perfection, but I don't see the point of giving up either.

@nailer: It's either some particular place where you eat or it's some lack of adaptability in your body - in 10 years nothing like what you describe has happened to me, with the exception of a very few (like, maybe 3 - although to tell the truth I can't remember any in particular, they were so minor) instances of "the runs", none of which were really serious and all of which cleared up by themselves within a day or so. And I have eaten out almost every day for those 10 years plus, and continue to do so.
Another thought: perhaps your body just can't adjust to spices - many dishes in Yunnan are spicey, which is not the case in Guangdong, for instance, or in numerous other parts of China.

As for overall health of the population - yes, there are greater health problems in China, taken overall, than there are in many/most North American or European countries. This is true of most of the world. I would think most posters must have known that before they ever came to China, and it's not worth debating further. Health care here is far from being the disaster that some imagine, and it is improving all the time. It's certainly much, much more affordable here than in the US, which is particularly bad in this respect, although there are indeed places and social groups, mostly in the countryside, who, thanks to unequal health provision and the low income levels of some, still hesitate to see a doctor.

@yankee: "settling for"? What kinda comment is that?

All of you guys who are obsessed with attacking Matt, and all of you guys (including Matt) who are obsessed with defending yourselves, are bent.

I might be interested in that, have done some reading in this sort of thing - figure out a meeting time/place & let us know.