Military-style weight loss camps are gaining popularity across China, offering month-long stays for approximately $600 in locations such as the suburbs of Guangzhou. These facilities enforce rigorous exercise, controlled meals, and daily weigh-ins to facilitate significant weight reduction.
Australian content creator TL Huang documented her experience at one of these camps, labeling it a "prison." Her account, shared on social media, detailed a demanding routine of 19 weekly workouts and twice-daily weigh-ins. Trainers reportedly enforced strict adherence to the regime, questioning participants who gained weight. Huang observed that many attendees were younger Chinese individuals, often enrolled by their parents.
Health professionals recommend a weekly weight loss rate of 0.5 to 1 kilogram, cautioning that exceeding this rate can pose health risks.
Over 2,000 private weight loss camps are estimated to operate in China. This increase coincides with health officials' projections that 65% of Chinese adults could be overweight or obese by 2030. Factors contributing to this trend include the influence of fast-food culture, a shift towards sedentary occupations, and increased consumption of inexpensive, less healthy diets.
Weight loss trends among young people in China are notable, with activities like working as food delivery drivers on weekends or engaging in extended karaoke sessions to burn calories being popularized on platforms like Douyin. The non-medical use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for weight management has also risen, driven by a perceived need to maintain a favorable image for career and marital prospects, especially amid high youth unemployment rates.
The Chinese government has incorporated obesity management into its "Healthy China" strategy, launching national campaigns, prevention programs, and clinical guidelines. Beijing has announced plans to establish nationwide weight management clinics, influenced by research suggesting that obesity-related health expenditures could constitute 22% of China's total health spending by 2030.
These extreme weight loss measures are not without controversy. In 2023, an influencer reportedly died while participating in a weight loss program at a facility in northern China. Participants frequently experience intense physical and mental challenges. Huang reported losing approximately 6 kilograms during her 28-day stay and noted a sense of community among the campers.