The Chao News Client reporter Zheng Jiaying, correspondent Zhu Yunxi
In today’s fast-paced life, weight management has become a focal point for many. Recently, a news report about a 25-year-old girl permanently losing her fertility after undergoing abdominal liposuction went viral. More and more young girls are resorting to extreme weight-loss methods to pursue a slim figure, such as excessive dieting, liposuction, and gastric surgery. However, this can not only cause serious physical harm but may even have irreversible consequences.
Weight management is not merely a “numbers game”; it involves scientific strategies. The “Weight Optimization Competition,” jointly organized by Chao News and Qianjiang Evening News along with Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital, has officially launched its first session. Over the course of a month, Chao News reporters will join 30 readers to witness this journey of “health cultivation,” achieving fat loss optimization goals under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team of experts, cultivating healthy habits, and benefiting both physically and mentally.
Obesity is not just about weight
A multidisciplinary team “safeguarding” health
In the week leading up to the event, many readers who signed up completed a detailed basic survey and participated in a body composition analysis test. Chao News reporters noticed that people of different age groups face their unique health challenges.
Young individuals in their twenties are already developing fatty liver, 35-year-old professionals have waist measurements close to their hip sizes, and middle-aged women are facing severe obesity with a BMI close to 40, while their muscle mass falls significantly below standards…
Some people may gain weight even from drinking water due to their constitution, while others may eat small amounts but have serious dietary issues, and chronic disease patients have even more complex conditions.
The expert “think tank” behind this “Weight Optimization Competition” covers various fields including metabolic disease, endocrinology, traditional Chinese medicine for disease prevention, rehabilitation medicine, sports medicine, cardiovascular medicine, nutrition, and medical imaging, providing comprehensive professional guidance and support to help participants achieve their weight optimization goals.
Image Source: Visual China
When approaching overweight or being overweight for an extended period, metabolic indicators can easily go awry; these changes cannot be seen on a scale, and some conditions require further differential diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine.
“In the clinic, some patients express that they always feel cold in their feet and hot in their hands. Upon examining their tongue coating, the tip of the tongue is red, while the back shows a thick yellow coating.” Professor Li Li, director of the Disease Prevention and Health Management Center and Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, explains that this could be due to damp-heat obstructing the central region, causing issues with qi movement.
“Individuals with this constitution often experience sores in the mouth and tongue, red eyes, or frequent acne outbreaks. Even a slight cold can lead to throat inflammation.” Li Li stated that during treatment, attention should not be limited to obesity problems; in the long run, it’s only by restoring the patient’s metabolism to a healthy state that body stability can be maintained.”
Exercise as “disease prevention”
One month to shape a healthier new lifestyle
Since the launch of the “Weight Management Year” initiative by the National Health Commission and 16 other departments, public health awareness has improved. To lose weight, along with diet, exercise is also crucial.
As the heat subsides, many citizens leave their air-conditioned rooms and exercise in groups, leading to occasional sports injuries. “Some retirees immediately begin dancing in public squares, resulting in ankle injuries; a mountain-lover, unaware of his muscle condition, did not manage his exercise load scientifically, and despite taking precautions while descending, he ultimately did not ‘escape’ surgery…”
The concept of “disease prevention” has received a new interpretation in the context of exercise health. Individual differences exist in cardiovascular function, muscle strength, and other physical conditions, making pre-exercise assessment particularly important.” Lei Xuezheng, head nurse at Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital’s Sports Medicine and Health Integration Research Center, admits that weight optimization focuses more on comprehensive health management, helping to cultivate good living habits and sustain them over a month.
