Outdoor activities

While weight control clinics are relatively new, sports and healthy eating have long been widely embraced in China's increasingly wellness-savvy society -- thanks to vigorous government advocacy.

Families are spending more time outdoors, hiking, cycling or camping. They also enroll their children in sports clubs. Outdoor and sports apparel and equipment are among the top sellers during the annual online shopping spree on Nov. 11.

Luo Ming (pseudonym) hikes Miaofeng Mountain, 55 kilometers northwest of central Beijing, each weekend. Like many of his age, the 43-year-old automotive engineer faces the threat of a bulging waistline due to a slowing metabolism and a sedentary work life.

"Thanks to this routine, I merely keep my health reports free of red flags," he said.

By the end of 2023, China had constructed 4.59 million sports venues and 370,000 kilometers of fitness trails. Physical education testing has been incorporated into high school entrance exams.

A survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that 49.6 percent of residents engaged in sports and fitness activities in 2024, up 18.7 percentage points from 2018.

A child practices ice hockey on the frozen Shichahai Lake in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wellness food

Authorities have also tackled public health by issuing dietary guidelines. The 2024 edition for obese adults features tailored menus for diverse groups across regions.

For instance, a spring dinner menu for central China residents includes millet, steamed weever, stir-fried Chinese cabbage with mushrooms, and stir-fried lettuce.

He Gengsheng, a member of the obesity branch of the China Nutrition Society, said these guidelines offer practical, tasty and healthy food options to support weight management.

These days, consumers are more calorie-conscious and closely examine ingredient lists in China. Many office workers now opt for bowls of greens topped with beef, chicken breast or salmon for lunch.

Entrepreneurs are riding this wave, tweaking traditional cuisine into lighter versions tailored to Chinese tastes. Even festive treats like mooncakes and zongzi have gotten a health-conscious twist with slimmed-down fillings and smaller portions for guilt-free enjoyment.

Wu Ke, a 30-year-old primary school teacher in Beijing, often turns to liquid salads -- a blended drink made from vegetables and fruit -- to undo holiday overindulgence. "I prefer options with cleaner labels over complex alternatives that have a laundry list of ingredients," she said.

A 2024 food delivery report highlights this shift: whole grain consumption has soared, fruit intake is up, and nearly 70 percent of tea drinkers now prefer low-sugar varieties.

Huang Peng, a professor at the school of sports medicine and rehabilitation at Beijing Sport University, said that metabolic rate and body fat percentage are gradually replacing traditional weight measurements as key health indicators in China.