Universities target healthy weight loss

A growing number of universities are introducing weight management courses to help students achieve healthier body compositions and develop sustainable lifestyle habits.

The latest to join the trend is Jiangnan University in Jiangsu province. In early April, the university issued a student physique enhancement action plan, which includes mandatory weight management courses for students with a body mass index exceeding 28, as well as fitness courses for those with weaker physical fitness.

The university has also added a 2,000-meter run for female students and a 2,400-meter run for male students as part of its physical education assessment.

Meanwhile, China Agricultural University has been running a successful weight management program for three and a half years.

Launched in the autumn semester of 2022, the university's "fat reduction and health enhancement" series has attracted 707 student enrollments over eight semesters, according to Wu Min, deputy head of the university's physical education department.

The 16-week course begins with a health screening, followed by theoretical lessons on obesity classification, diagnostic criteria, causes and risks, as well as scientific dietary approaches to fat reduction, Wu said.

During the eight-week intensive intervention period, students attend classes three times a week, with each 90-minute session combining strength and aerobic training.

Outside class, students are required to complete aerobic exercise two to three times a week, with each session lasting at least 40 minutes, while managing their own dietary intake. After the intervention period, students continue with four weeks of self-directed exercise and nutrition management before a final assessment, she said.

The course has produced notable health benefits. In 2025, participants in the spring semester lost an average weight loss of 6.09 kilograms, including an average of 5.08 kg of fat, while reducing their body fat percentage by 3.08 percentage points. Their physical fitness test scores improved by an average of 12.70 points.

Results from the autumn semester were also impressive. Participants lost an average of 5.34 kg and 4.23 kg of fat, reduced their body fat percentage by 2.33 percentage points and improved their fitness test scores by an average of 7.76 points.

For many students, the most valuable outcome is not the weight they lose but the healthy habits they gain.

Li Jiajun, a first-year mechanical engineering student at China Agricultural University, said he enrolled in the course to improve his endurance for the university's fitness test and to address postural problems developed during years of sedentary study in high school.

"The biggest takeaway isn't how many kilograms I lost, but the regular exercise and healthy eating habits I've developed — and the healthier body composition I've achieved," Li said.

The weekly strength and aerobic training sessions have helped him overcome his reluctance to exercise. Li added that he has also learned how to plan balanced meals instead of resorting to blind dieting, while his energy levels and physical fitness have improved significantly.

Zhou Zehao, a third-year agricultural science student, weighed about 110 kg at his heaviest. Poor lifestyle habits — including staying up late and consuming high-fat, high-sodium meals — had taken a toll on both his immune system and self-esteem.

"The greatest gain is that I have regained confidence and resilience," Zhou said. "The biggest takeaway from losing weight has never been how many kilograms I shed, but the courage to challenge life's deepest desires for laziness and comfort."

Before joining the program, Zhou said, he would order takeout rather than leave his dormitory. He also felt "invisible" to female students because he lacked the confidence to communicate with them.

After enrolling, he adjusted his diet and began exercising daily for about 40 minutes in a small public workout area in his dormitory building.

"The biggest advantage of this course is that you have a group of friends who encourage each other and keep each other accountable — workout buddies who tease you when you slack off but lend a hand when you truly need it," Zhou said, adding that such genuine human connection is something no online program or fitness influencer's boot camp can replicate.