Under the blueprint of the Healthy China 2030 Initiative, weight management has shifted from a matter of personal appearance to a national public health priority. It is closely linked to chronic disease prevention and long-term population health.

Following the launch of the three-year "Year of Weight Management" initiative by 16 government departments in 2024, hospital-based weight management clinics expanded rapidly in 2025, with full coverage in all tertiary public hospitals planned by 2026. Multidisciplinary systems are now being established nationwide to provide structured, science-based interventions.

At the multidisciplinary weight management clinic of Qingdao Municipal Hospital, the waiting area is often filled with patients. Since its establishment in 2019, patient visits have grown by about 20 percent annually since then. According to Ma Xiaoli, director of the Endocrinology Department, the clinic recorded a total of 2,899 visits from overweight and obese patients in 2025.

Tackling obesity at the source

Medically supervised weight management differs fundamentally from commercial fitness programs or self-directed dieting. Commercial gyms primarily focus on short-term body sculpting programs, while self-guided weight loss efforts often lack scientific methodology.

By contrast, weight management clinics in tertiary hospitals function as medical intervention systems centered on disease prevention and chronic disease risk control, with proper medical evaluation of metabolic conditions. Hospitals conduct long-term follow-ups to prevent rebound weight gain, aiming to fundamentally improve patients' metabolic health and reduce risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death. 

Ma explained that weight management clinics first rule out secondary causes of obesity, such as Cushing's syndrome, and assess existing or potential complications. Based on the evaluation, doctors provide stratified and stepwise treatment plans – ranging from dietary and exercise guidance to medication and, when necessary, metabolic surgery.

"Through professional medical testing, we can identify the underlying causes of obesity and conduct dynamic monitoring," Ma said. "This helps avoid the physical harm caused by blind dieting or excessive exercise."

A multidisciplinary "one-stop" platform

Obesity is a root cause of many chronic conditions and cannot be addressed by a single department. In the past, patients with obesity-related complications often had to consult multiple specialties separately.

"The weight management clinic serves as a central platform," Ma noted. "It coordinates endocrinology, nutrition, cardiology and other specialists to develop integrated treatment plans and provide one-stop services, avoiding repeated examinations and conflicting treatments."

At Qingdao Municipal Hospital, patients undergo comprehensive assessments upon entry, including body composition analysis, metabolic rate testing, and blood glucose and blood pressure evaluations. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) then formulates a personalized intervention plan.

The growing health burden

Obesity is widely recognized as a major risk factor for chronic metabolic diseases, associated with more than 200 diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea and multiple types of cancer. Proper weight management can help reverse or alleviate many of these conditions.

According to Ma, lifestyle interventions that reduce body weight by 5 to 7 percent among overweight individuals can lower the incidence of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. For every kilogram of weight lost, systolic blood pressure drops by approximately 1 mmHg. Healthy dietary management, she noted, can achieve effects comparable to first-line anti-hypertensive medications.

A strategic shift

China's approach to weight management is quietly shifting from simply "losing weight" to comprehensive health governance. The focus is no longer just on the number on a scale, but on preventing chronic disease and improving overall quality of life.

With strong policy backing, better-coordinated medical systems and rising public awareness, China's approach to weight management is becoming more science-based and sustainable – signaling a shift from simple weight loss to long-term health and well-being.

(Xie Xiaozhen and Li Shangxi also contribute to the article.)