The "Great Matter of the Nation" Behind Weight Management

During the 2026 National Two Sessions, weight management once again became a hot topic. From the joint launch of the “Year of Weight Management” by 16 departments in 2024 to the 2025 National Two Sessions’ “The country is calling for us to lose weight,” which sparked widespread discussion, this special initiative has entered its third year.

How effective is weight management? What are the difficulties and bottlenecks? Why is it necessary to plan at the national level? Deputies and committee members shared their observations and thoughts.

How Effective Is Weight Management?

“People’s health indicators are improving, and perceptions are changing.” National People’s Congress (NPC) deputy and Vice Dean of the School of Physical Education at Nanchang Normal University, Cheng Lifeng, summarized her observations with two “changes.”

In January last year, 11 departments in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, jointly issued the “Nanchang City ‘Year of Weight Management’ Action Plan.” The local government organized a “Thousand People Weight Loss Program” and a “180-Day Scientific Weight Loss Challenge,” providing guidance through online health management systems, community check-ins, live Q&A sessions, and offline traditional Chinese medicine weight loss courses. Ultimately, over 1,500 participants lost an average of 8% of their body weight. Cheng Lifeng said, “This is not just a numerical change but a reduction in health risks.”

“People used to think ‘a little fat is okay,’ but now they are actively paying attention to their weight.” Cheng Lifeng explained that Yichun City in Jiangxi Province increased investment in basic public health subsidies last year to support 18 hospitals in establishing standardized medical weight loss clinics, which treated over 1,200 patients, and held 120 health lectures covering more than 16,000 people. “This shows that ordinary people are starting to take weight seriously and are willing to seek advice and intervene proactively.”

Wei Xiaoli, Vice Director of the Yaxia Community Health Service Center of the Baisha Li Autonomous County Medical Group in Hainan Province and an NPC deputy, said that local weight management for “the elderly and children” has become more detailed and strict. “In rural areas, overweight children were more common a few years ago, but things are much better now.”

“Now, we conduct monthly weight monitoring for children aged 0-6 years.” Wei Xiaoli added that the local government also collaborates with nursing homes to set up medical service points, providing door-to-door services for the elderly and developing personalized weight management plans.

Statistics show that over 5,500 medical and health institutions nationwide have established health weight management clinics. Over the past year, many cities extended their health walking paths; some cafeterias labeled calorie content; and the National Health Commission guided major travel platforms to mark hotels with weight scales, making it easier for travelers to choose accommodations.

Weight Management Is Not Just “Weight Loss”

“Equating weight management with weight loss is like equating education with test scores—it’s a typical misconception.” Cheng Lifeng said that although progress has been significant, there are still many difficulties and bottlenecks in weight management.

The most typical is misconceptions. Wei Xiaoli said that compared to the elderly, some young people are more prone to weight anxiety and misconceptions. “Weight management is not just about a number; it’s about the overall physical condition.”

Cheng Lifeng called for establishing “health standards” rather than “aesthetic standards” for weight management. The health standards should first meet medical indicators, such as waist circumference less than 90 cm for men and less than 85 cm for women; second, include body function indicators like cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and flexibility.

In terms of public education, there is still a disconnect between “in-hospital treatment” and “out-of-hospital management.” Many deputies and committee members noted that after patients receive plans at weight management clinics, they lack ongoing professional guidance and peer support at home, making it easy to give up halfway. How to extend professional guidance beyond hospital walls and ensure that weight management is not just a passing trend remains an urgent issue.

Among different groups, adolescents and young working adults face more prominent and urgent weight issues.

Data shows that nearly 19% of children aged 6-17 in Jiangxi Province are overweight or obese, and about 9% of children under 6 are affected. In response, local authorities have clearly stated that high-salt, high-sugar, and high-fat foods should not be sold within 500 meters of schools and their surroundings.

Wei Xiaoli believes that young working adults, who “exercise less, love to watch their phones, and sit for long periods in front of computers,” are the most difficult to intervene with. Wang Daowen, a cardiovascular internal medicine expert and NPC deputy, also said that unhealthy lifestyles are very common among young people.

What Can Sports Do for Weight Management?

“The health of over 1.4 billion people is the foundation of national development.” Cheng Lifeng said.

According to the National Health Commission, over 50% of residents aged 18 and above in China are overweight or obese. Without intervention, the future burden of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes will be unmanageable.

Paying attention to weight management is an essential part of the Healthy China strategy. In this nationwide effort, sports play an irreplaceable role.

Xie Minhhao, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former director of the Sports Medicine Research Institute of the General Administration of Sport, said, “Many studies show that sports have a positive effect on solving obesity and related issues.”

Gong Weijuan, another CPPCC member and Vice President of Yangzhou University, suggested that residents should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, “making exercise a daily habit to boost metabolism and physical fitness.”

Different groups require different approaches to sports intervention.

Regarding the elderly, Wang Yishu, Vice Director of the General Internal Medicine Department at Beijing Xiaotangshan Hospital and CPPCC member, believes that exercises should follow the principles of no running or jumping, minimal load, and focus on strength—such as wall squats, seated leg lifts, and Tai Chi—to achieve both bone strengthening and weight reduction.

For children and teenagers, Cheng Lifeng emphasized that sports are not just “an auxiliary subject” but the “cornerstone” for building healthy bodies and well-rounded personalities. “We should encourage overweight children to ‘move more’ to burn calories and help thin children ‘train’ to strengthen muscles.”

Gong Weijuan stated that in weight management, harmful methods like strict dieting and taking weight-loss pills should be abandoned. Instead, regular exercise should be promoted to activate the body’s vitality.

“A woman who can easily run two kilometers and carry a bag of rice upstairs is healthy. We should advocate for ‘strengthful beauty’ rather than ‘bony beauty.’ Instead of emphasizing ‘cartoon legs’ or ‘A4 waist,’ we should promote energetic, healthy postures of ordinary people,” Cheng Lifeng concluded.