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.

For a nation that had long struggled to feed its vast population, obesity barely registered until the late 1970s, when reform and opening-up ignited an economic boom, as well as a swelling national appetite.

Today, with more than 1.4 billion people, China faces a growing obesity challenge. The NHC reported that over half of adults are overweight or obese. It warned that if left unchecked, the rate could climb to 70.5 percent by 2030.

An estimate once projected that the economic burden attributed to overweight and obesity would account for 21.5 percent of the country's total medical expenses by that time.

In response, authorities launched a nationwide campaign in June 2024 to foster a supportive environment for weight control within three years. Obesity clinics are a key component of these efforts.

Participants compete during the 2025 Chongqing Marathon in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Professional aid

Weighing 100 kilograms, a Beijing resident surnamed Chen became one of the first to benefit from the new weight management clinic at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

On Wednesday, the 104-year-old institution unveiled its joint clinic, staffed by experts in clinical nutrition, endocrinology, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Greeted by clinical nutrition specialist Chen Wei, Chen learned she faced not only obesity but also diabetes and high blood pressure. Chen Wei brought in endocrinology and TCM specialists, and the trio crafted a treatment plan blending TCM medications, acupuncture and Metformin, along with a personalized health management strategy.

Highlighting the prominence of traditional medicine in this approach, Wang said that practices such as acupuncture, massage, Qigong and medicinal diets have given China a distinct edge in tackling obesity.

At Suzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in east China's Jiangsu Province, physician Jiang Yawen has already treated over 100 patients with acupuncture for obesity just two weeks into March.

From the perspective of TCM, obesity is linked to the functioning of the liver, spleen and kidneys, said Jiang. Acupuncture can help by enhancing the function of these organs, curbing appetite, and improving nutrient absorption in the stomach and intestines, she added.

Jiang has even taken these techniques abroad. As part of a Chinese medical team sent to Malta from 2020 to 2021, she brought her therapy to the Mediterranean country, where it helped relieve locals of obesity and was warmly embraced.

While weight control clinics offer professional services, they carry the risk of over-treatment and unintended health or financial consequences, Wang cautioned. "We need to put in place relevant research, assessment, oversight and regulation."