BEIJING: Plates of freshly grilled meat and rounds of cold beer used to be a staple of summer nights for Ji, a 31-year-old resident of Jincheng, Shanxi province. With no routine exercises and an appetite for various noodle dishes, Ji, who is 1.8 meters tall, saw his weight climb from 70 to 95 kilograms in four years.
“When I found that it was difficult for me to buy clothes that fit and when my knees started to hurt, I made up my mind to seek professional help to lose weight,” said Ji, who asked to be identified only by his surname.
In December, Ji visited the weight management clinic at Jincheng People’s Hospital, where he was examined thoroughly to determine his body composition and metabolic indicators and received detailed guidance on daily diet and workout routines.
“The doctor’s briefing on potential risks of obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, reinforced my determination to lose weight,” Ji said, adding that he found the clinic’s attention to his overall health and wellness, including muscle mass index and knee problems, very reassuring.
The weight management clinic at Jincheng People’s Hospital was established in 2023, and this week, it was expanded into a multidisciplinary facility amid a national push to fight excess weight and obesity.
Official data shows that more than 50 percent of adults in China are either overweight or obese, and the rate is likely to rise to 70.5 percent by 2030, if the upward morbidity trend is not curbed.
Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, recently noted that excess weight is linked to higher risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some forms of cancer. Such chronic diseases are now a major public health threat, he said.
“A total of 16 government bodies, including the commission, launched a three-year campaign aimed at guiding the society toward better weight management, adoption of healthier diet, active participation in workout routines and promotion of other healthy lifestyle choices,” Lei said at a news conference held during this year’s just concluded two sessions, the annual meetings of China’s top legislative and top political advisory bodies.
In addition to efforts focused on creating a supportive social environment for weight management, such as equipping hotels with weighing scales, and intensifying awareness campaigns, Lei also emphasized setting up more weight management clinics at hospitals to provide personalized services for those in need. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
