Growing health awareness feeds new 'slimming economy'

Burning money

Nearly 80 percent of young people want to lose weight, with over 50 percent actively trying, according to the 2025 Young People's Weight Loss Report by Just So Soul, the research arm of Chinese social app Soul.

For 60 percent, exercise is the preferred weight-loss method, though 60 percent of those give up within three months. Despite challenges, more than 20 percent have successfully lost around 10 kg, the report said.

Many young people are highly motivated when they start, but later burn out, discouraged by expensive programs, fad diets, and fleeting results.

"I've probably spent more than 50,000 yuan ($7,000) in the past five years just trying to lose weight. Gyms, boot camps, slimming teas, apps, beauty salon treatments — you name it, I've tried it," said Chen Wen, a 28-year-old brand strategist from Shanghai.

Chen started trying to get fit in her early 20s and was convinced she would eventually find the right method. She signed up for a high-end gym in Jing'an district that charged nearly 1,000 yuan a month. For three months, she faithfully attended early morning spin classes and strength training sessions, but the results were patchy.

"The schedule was too intense. After late-night client dinners, there was no way I could keep it up," said Chen.

Next came intermittent fasting, juice cleanses, and calorie-counting apps. She spent 2,000 yuan on a package of imported "detox" juices that promised rapid results. "I ended up hungry, dizzy, and bingeing on hotpot with friends the following weekend," she said with a laugh.

Beauty salons were another costly detour.

Chen tried "fat-burning" treatments with AI body scans that claimed to target "stubborn" areas. Each session costs 800 yuan, and she completed nearly 10, but the changes were barely noticeable.

"It felt more like I was burning my money more than burning fat. Despite all my efforts, the weight always came back, and what I lost most wasn't fat — it was my confidence. Every time I failed, it wasn't just about my body — it felt like I was failing as a person," said Chen.

She came to realize the problem wasn't her willpower, but the unsustainable methods she was using. Now, instead of punishing herself with rigid diets and grueling routines, Chen takes evening walks in a small park near her apartment, cooks balanced meals with fresh produce, and meditates to ease stress.

"While I still hope to slim down, my priorities have changed. I want to feel strong, energetic, and comfortable in my own skin; for me now, that's the real definition of fitness," she said.