On the morning of the 17th, the weather was overcast with a slight breeze. On the Huangge Ancient Trail in Nanshan, 23 “obese patients” from the Boiling Point Weight Loss Club affiliated with the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University hiked with joy, enjoying the pleasure of losing weight through mountain climbing. Accompanying them were doctors and fitness coaches.
At 10 a.m., the overweight participants gathered at the foot of Nanshan, ready to set off. Along the way, they had to stop frequently to catch their breath after just a few steps. Around 11 a.m., they reached the mountaintop one after another.
Among the group, Xiao Zhang, a cheerful overweight participant, stood out. Xiao Zhang is 23 years old; the reporter estimated he weighed about 200 jin (approximately 100 kg), but he claimed to weigh only 180 jin. He sweated the most throughout the hike. After finally reaching the top, he eagerly felt around his stomach. Then he suddenly pulled on the fitness coach’s sleeve and exclaimed, “Look, look, I can finally feel my ribs!I couldn’t before coming up the mountain.” Xiao Zhang told the reporter that he had visited several fitness clubs before. “As soon as they saw my body, they treated me like a walking ATM, constantly pushing various weight-loss packages. Later, I decided that as long as it was a paid weight-loss program, I wouldn’t go.”
The heaviest participant, weighing 303 jin, usually gets out of breath even while walking normally, so the doctor advised him to take the cable car up the mountain. After all the overweight participants gathered at the summit, they did fitness exercises under the guidance of a coach. Zhang, the specially invited fitness coach, suggested that the enclosed space of a gym is not ideal for exercise, and that outdoor activities in fresh air, along with some aerobic exercises, are more suitable for overweight individuals.
The reporter observed that some members of the weight loss club are not actually overweight—they include diabetes patients and former “overweight individuals” who have successfully lost weight. One overweight participant who asked not to be named said that this group actually feels quite lonely. They may like someone but dare not confess, and few people actively care about their lives, but within this overweight community, everyone can express themselves freely.
Associate Professor Zhang Jun from the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University stated that patients with obesity are a rather unique group who often do not wish to interact with others or participate in social activities. In 2011, there were nearly 200,000 obesity patients in Chongqing. “We hope to draw societal attention to this issue through the power of the group and promote a reasonable and healthy lifestyle.”
Zhang Jun explained that the weight loss club has been established for two months and now has over 30 members. Currently, membership and participation in activities are free. Anyone who wants to lose weight, suffers from diabetes, or is passionate about public welfare can sign up to join. The club will regularly hold overweight walking competitions, pre- and post-weight-loss surgery fashion shows, establish a cycling club for the overweight, and gather members to share weight loss experiences. It will also invite physical training experts to provide specialized guidance for members.
In addition, the club will regularly conduct lectures on obesity and diabetes. “By forming these people into a team, we want to help them relax, build confidence, and find treatment methods that suit them.”
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