In China, obese individuals are shedding the pounds by enrolling in ‘fat prisons’ – closed camps that promise rapid weight loss through intense exercise routines, mandatory weigh-ins and rules that make it difficult to leave.
And one woman who has signed herself up has given an inside peek at what really goes on behind the facility’s closed doors.
To address its growing obesity problem, China established a network of commercial or government-affiliated weight-loss ‘prisons’ that operate in repurposed facilities or campuses across the country.
For those who have long given up on fad diets, personal trainers and weight management products, these strict, military-style camps have become an apt choice.
The goal is to encourage significant weight loss in both adults and children through controlled diets, constant monitoring and disciplined programs that are tailored to each individual.
As well as following strict diet plans, participants are expected to engage in strenuous activities each day, such as pounding treadmills, boxing routines, and intense cardio sessions.
Giving up is not an option, as the facility keeps its steel gates firmly shut, and there are rules in place that make it difficult for individuals to leave.
One Australian woman, who is currently holed up in a camp in China, has candidly shared an inside look of her gruelling daily routine – and it appears to be no walk in the park.
The 28-year-old, who goes by @eggeats on Instagram, has been documenting her four-week stay at the facility, which she paid less than $1000 (£742) for at the beginning of December.
In various videos posted to her page, she revealed she exercises for four hours every day and attends 19 classes a week, starting with a group aerobics class each morning.
This is followed by group HIIT classes and a second aerobics session in the afternoon, before finishing with an evening spin class, which sees participants pedal in unison to music in a high-energy rave setting complete with strobe lights.
Meals consumed between workouts are carefully portioned on trays, with one breakfast comprising of a single piece of bread, chopped tomato and cucumber and four boiled eggs.
The woman revealed she most looks forward to lunchtime, as it’s when the most food is served, with average meals consisting of braised duck, lotus roots, stir fried vegetables, raw carrots and a banana.
And, as if bunking with up to five roommates and exercising in groups isn’t suffocating enough, she further noted that participants are not allowed to leave the premises without ‘valid reasons’.
In one video, she recorded the tall concrete walls, steel gating and electric wiring that surround the compound, along with entry and exit points that are manned by security.
Participants are also expected to forfeit ‘banned’ food items at the beginning of the program, such as instant ramen noodles and dried, picked and fried snacks.
But it’s not all bad, as participants are given downtime each day from 7.40pm, and are allowed to rest on Sundays – up until nighttime for a compulsory spin class, that is.
Participants are also allocated their own space in each dorm, with personal desks and wardrobes below bunks designed to hold toiletries, clothing, everyday essentials, a laptop, and other possessions.
The accommodation – which also includes an outdoor washroom area, high-pressure shower and squat-toilet – is included in the $1000 program cost, along with three basic meals a day.
In another clip, the content creator explained that the program accepts individuals from all over the world, who don’t necessarily need to speak Mandarin or Cantonese as the team enjoy practicing English with participants.
Though two-week programs are an option, participants are encouraged to enroll in a 28-day plan for better results.
The woman revealed she had lost 2.25kg in seven days, and had shed a total of 4kg by day 14.
Despite the early mornings, body aches and demanding schedule, she recommends the program to anyone who’s up for the challenge.
She added: ‘I made heaps of friends, everyone is nice and non-judgmental because we all have the same goal: TO LOSE FAT!’
However, some people in the comments don’t think the strict regime is providing the best results.
One said: ‘8lbs in 14 days is not a lot for a fat camp. You can lose 4lbs a week at home by going to the gym and changing your eating habits.
‘I was thinking something drastic since you have to pay and it’s a camp.
‘But you are doing a great job, keep it up you looking good.’
