China’s Military-Style Weight Loss Camps Enforce Twice Daily Weigh-Ins and Strict Snack Bans

Videos circulating widely on social media show people exercising inside large halls, queuing up for meals in canteens, and sleeping in dormitories as usual. These are not luxury spas but military-style weight loss camps in China. Dubbed by some as “prisons for the overweight,” these camps impose strict restrictions on snacking and require mandatory weigh-ins twice a day.

With obesity becoming an increasing problem across China, local media report that there are about 1,000 such camps nationwide. For a fee of around 600 US dollars, one can spend a month in these camps. The price includes food, accommodation, and daily exercise classes. Content creator TL Huang shared her experience at one of these camps on Instagram. In an interview with the BBC World Service’s ‘What in the World’ podcast, she described the experience as “very prison-like,” as she was not allowed to leave the camp for 28 days and had to undergo continuous weight measurement.

Huang stated that the program was effective for weight loss, but nutritionists warn that these harsh methods may pose serious physical and mental health risks. “Some camps set targets of losing one kilogram per day. However, this is significantly above levels considered safe even under medical supervision for adults,” said physical trainer and nutritionist Luke Henley.

Chinese health officials have reported that around 34% of adults in China are overweight, with approximately 16% classified as obese. The popularity of these camps has increased alongside the expansion of social media. Huang’s Instagram now shows her attending another 30-day weight loss camp in Thailand.