A growing number of Chinese companies are paying employees to lose weight, with some workers pocketing thousands of yuan for shedding extra kilos.
At action-camera maker Insta360, the program is simple: lose 500 grams and earn 500 yuan (US$70). Gain it back, however, and employees must pay a penalty of 800 yuan per 500 grams.
The initiative, launched earlier this year, has gone viral on Chinese social media, racking up 6.6 million views on Weibo. In one notable case, an employee lost 20 kilograms in just 90 days, taking home 20,000 yuan (US$2,787).
So far, no participant has been fined. Instead, the results have been overwhelmingly positive: 99 employees have collectively lost 950 kilograms, receiving a combined 1 million yuan (US$139,389) in rewards. The company says the scheme is designed to promote healthier lifestyles and encourage a positive outlook toward work and life.
The trend has sparked envy among netizens, with many expressing hope that their own employers would implement similar incentives.
Insta360 is not alone in adopting the approach. Earlier this year, Guangdong-based nutrition brand Wonderlab ran a month-long weight-loss competition, with 224 employees collectively shedding 750 kilograms and splitting 171,000 yuan (US$23,846) in prize money. One participant set a company record by losing 16.4 kilograms, earning 7,600 yuan (US$1,059).
These workplace initiatives align with the Chinese National Health Commission’s three-year action plan, launched in June 2024, aimed at promoting scientific weight management and combating obesity.
However, health experts and labor commentators have urged caution. Shanghai-based Laodong Daily warned that while such programs can encourage healthier habits, companies must safeguard employees’ personal health data and avoid creating unnecessary stress—particularly when penalties for weight gain are involved.
