BEIJING: Weight control in China was once a solitary battle. Now, the government is offering a helping hand.
At a recent news conference, Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission (NHC), announced plans to establish more weight management clinics at medical and health facilities, helping people shed pounds safely and pivot to healthier lifestyles.
The announcement, made on the sidelines of the annual gathering of national lawmakers in Beijing — where the year’s priorities and goals are set — quickly caught fire online. Social media platforms like Weibo and rednote buzzed with reactions to the news.
The 2025 government work report, green-lit by lawmakers on March 11, reaffirmed China’s commitment to a health-first strategy in its medical and health system — a clear departure from the traditional emphasis on disease treatment.
The public didn’t hold back on the fun. A cheeky hashtag, “The country’s calling you to drop those pounds,” took off, along with a flood of witty cartoons from netizens that lit up the internet.
Wang Youfa, head of the Global Health Institute at Xi’an Jiaotong University, saw this as a sign of growing public awareness about the toll of obesity.
“It mirrors an alignment of scientific research, government action, and public engagement,” he said, noting this synergy indicates a vibrant wellness boom unfolding across the country. –Agencies
