China Focus: Chinese universities launch weight management programs to address expanding waistlines

SHENYANG -- When Wang Zhucen signed up for the first-ever weight management course at Dalian University of Technology in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian, he was not sure what would come. However, after 21 days of regular exercise, he managed to lose 6.3 kg of weight.

"This is the best testament to my hard work and perseverance. I felt happier when I sweated for an hour every day doing exercises with my classmates," Wang said.

Dalian University of Technology is among a growing number of Chinese universities that are taking proactive steps to address the growing waistlines, particularly those of young people.

Students enrolled in the university's weight management course can choose to participate in either a 21-day intensive program or a full-semester curriculum, covering scientific exercise, nutrition guidance and mental health support.

The course can help the students develop healthy lifestyles, improve their physical health and make them more confident and optimistic about the future, said participants.

Thirty-three students in the first intensive session lost a total of 133 kg of weight. They also showed noticeable improvements in their blood pressure and mental health.

From fat-loss meals in campus canteens to lifestyle clinics and weight loss competitions, universities across the country are introducing a wide array of programs to help students manage their weight and embrace healthier lifestyles.

Recently, South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou in South China held its first weight management competition. Student contestants took on physical challenges such as carrying grain on unicycles and carrying loads with carrying poles on their shoulders across obstacle courses. Each student also received a health record to track their progress, part of a larger initiative to offer comprehensive health support.

Shi Shengjun, a graduate student, said he joined the competition hoping to take the first step towards tackling his weight problem. "I've always avoided socializing with other people because of anxiety over my body image," Shi said. "Now I want to make a change with the support of a scientific system and my peers."

Next year, the university will measure the students' weight and offer rewards to those who reach their targets.

A campus hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu in Southwest China recently launched a lifestyle clinic in response to the strong demand among young students and teachers to lose weight scientifically and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The initiative was launched after a survey of freshmen revealed widespread issues, including skipping breakfast, inadequate sleep and a lack of exercise, said Su Qiaoli, vice president of Sichuan University Hospital.

Unlike traditional medical services, the clinic promotes healthy lifestyles, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, sufficient sleep and emotion management, to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes among young people. "We aim to intervene before chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension develop," said Su.

Sichuan University has long offered a course called "Weight Control Theory and Practice" that introduces students to a variety of fitness programs, from water aerobics and water trampolining to aqua cycling.

"Most of our students are trying to lose weight," said Han Haijun, deputy dean of the Physical Education College of Sichuan University. "Our goal is to help them develop lifelong exercise habits."

The university programs are a response to a national strategy on weight management. In June 2024, China launched a three-year weight management campaign to fight rising overweight and obesity rates.

According to the National Health Commission, 34.3 percent of Chinese adults were overweight and 16.4 percent were obese in 2018. Citing research forecasts, it warned that 70.5 percent of Chinese adults would be overweight or obese by 2030 if no effective measures were taken to curb the rising trend.

"To manage weight, we need to encourage students to engage in scientific exercise and make a proper diet part of their daily routine," said Chang Bo, professor at the Zhuhai College of Science and Technology. "Moreover, college students should strengthen self-discipline to improve their lifestyles and health management."