Universities target to improve student health weight loss

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. 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.