Wellness wave sees Chinese man lose 28 kg in 4 months

During a recent news conference held on the sidelines of the annual gathering of national lawmakers in Beijing, Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission (NHC), announced plans to establish more weight management clinics at medical and health facilities in China.

Passed on March 11, the announcement emphasized the importance of wellness and maintaining healthier lifestyles across the country.

However, this wouldn't be the first such attempt at getting more Chinese people on the wellness track.

According to a 2020 report from the NHC, 34.3 percent of the country's adults were overweight, and 16.4 percent were obese, with research predicting that overweight and obesity rates among Chinese adults could reach 65.3 percent by 2030.

In June 2024, the NHC and other government departments jointly launched the "Weight Management Year" initiative. This three-year plan is part of the broader Healthy China strategy to enhance public health literacy, foster healthy living habits and create supportive environments for sustained weight control.

This wellness wave has swept across social media, with people sharing their journeys towards healthier lifestyles. Among these inspiring stories is that of Gao Lilong, a 47-year-old marketing director from Tangshan in Hebei Province.

Gao's struggles with weight began in junior high school, when he weighed 135 kilograms. Despite his parents' efforts to help him through sports, his weight fluctuated over the years. In 2009, a health-scare – high blood pressure brought on by his then-145 kg weight – served as a wake-up call. This prompted Gao to embark on his systemic training journey and lose 45 kg in just eight months, improving both his physical and mental health. Unfortunately, as is the case for many, once the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, he rebounded and found himself slipping back into old and unhealthy habits.

Gao finally decided to get serious about his health journey again after moving to Saudi Arabia for work last year. For him, this move to the desert was more than just for his career. It played a role in his weight loss too. 

At the start of his journey in June, he weighed 138 kg, and over the next four months, through a combination of a carefully planned diet and regular exercise, Gao managed to lose 28 kg, bringing his weight down to 110 kg – something he admits took a lot of discipline.

"I think the reason for my weight gain is, on the one hand, personal lifestyle problems, such as overeating, and on the other hand, my work environment that has a great impact. I work in marketing, and because of my job, I have been under great work pressure, my schedule is irregular, I often work overtime and am out for dinners with customers a lot of the time," he says.

Gao's weight loss strategy has been meticulous. He taught himself nutrition, developed a detailed diet plan, and calculated his basal metabolic rate through monitoring his calorie intake. His diet included a balanced intake of protein, dietary fiber and controlled portions. The toughest part, he admits, was fighting the temptation to give in to a lot of the delicious foods he had become accustomed to.

He avoided sugary drinks and minimized carbohydrate intake, even if it meant cutting down on the number of dumplings he'd eat at mealtimes. His exercise routine was equally disciplined, involving evening aerobics and strength training with makeshift weights, namely large bottles filled with water or sand.

The results were remarkable.

Despite living and working in Saudi Arabia, Gao returns China every three months to his local office in Tangshan and to see his family. Seeing his transformation came as a pleasant surprise to them.

"My body is slimmer, stronger and healthier. When I went home, my daughter couldn't recognize me. It was hard to accept. She asked where the big-bellied dad had gone," he recalls.

"I made a bet with my wife that after I lose weight this time, I can wear the small size clothes I bought 10 years ago. Of course, I won in the end."

His colleagues were equally astonished and inspired by his success. Gao's journey didn't just stop at personal achievement, it also influenced his colleagues, two of whom lost around 10 kg each.

In fact, his place of work adopted their own way of encouraging wellness culture. In April this year, just a month after the NHC's announcement, his company – China MCC22 Group Corp. Ltd. – hosted a sporting event for all staff to showcase their talents and break a sweat in the name of sportsmanship.

Staff members took part in numerous track and field events which not only saw some intense competition, but encouraged a culture of healthy living, a culture Gao hopes will continue and expand beyond his company.

So far, Gao has reached his goal and hopes to maintain his current weight.

"I think my current weight is very suitable. Considering my height, it would be unhealthy if I was too light. Later, I plan to moderately increase my muscle content through strength training," he says.

Gao's story is a reflection of the broader wellness movement in China. He believes that this initiative is crucial, as obesity is becoming a growing concern in China. He hopes that the focus on wellness will lead to a healthier, happier society where everyone can achieve their potential.

"Losing weight is one of the few things you can control and change your fate. Every overweight person has potential. Don't be embarrassed to lose weight and don't care about other people's opinions," he says.

"The process may be embarrassing, but the result will definitely make people look at you with admiration. For your family, for yourself, and for a better tomorrow, start today."