Chinese waistlines have been expanding in direct proportion to the economic growth. Little wonder then, losing weight has become a buzzword, not only for looking good but more importantly for a healthy and happy life.
Ten overweight people, six women and four men from eight provinces and municipalities, began a 21-day harsh diet camp at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital yesterday.
They are the first group to receive treatment at the hospital's newly established diet center.
All the patients, aged between 19 and 35 years and weighing more than 100 kilograms, recalled their formidable but losing battles against the bulge, while being upbeat about finding success at the camp under the close scrutiny of profess-ionals.
"I have tried all possible means, including dieting, less sleeping, taking anti-obesity drugs and doing a lot of physical exercise," said Liu Lu, a 19-year-old student from Sichuan Province, who is 182 centimeters tall and weighs 120 kilograms.
"But to no avail. I would quickly regain the weight," Liu said. "I hope I can reduce to 90 kilograms after the three-week camp and the following summer vacation I can have a new image."
Doctors said most obese people have an unhealthy lifestyle and wrong diet, like fasting or blindly taking weight-loss pills.
"A comprehensive diet plan is the key to losing weight," said Dr. Hong Jie of Ruijin. "Patients should be fully aware of the dangers of obesity, and losing weight is a long-term process."
In addition to a tight exercise schedule and a strict menu, doctors will give lectures on dietotherapy, exercise therapy and other topics.
Doctor said the 10 patients are expected to reduce an average of seven kilograms after the camp. They said there are 200 to 500 million obese people and 1 billion overweight people in the world. In China, 300 million people over 20 years of age are overweight and 70 million are obese.
(eastday.com July 02, 2002)
