As Chinese gym offers second-hand luxury car to anyone who loses 50 kilos in 3 months, expert weighs-in on the viral fitness challenge

Long-term health benefits rely not just on the number on the scale, but on consistent improvements in diet quality

Here's what you should know (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

In what has taken the internet by storm, a Chinese gym recently launched a weight-loss challenge offering a luxury car reward to anyone who successfully loses 50kg in three months. According to a post in the South China Morning Post, on October 23, a fitness training centre in Shandong province, northern China, announced the challenge, promising a 2020 Porsche Panamera as a reward. The portal reported that a fitness coach, surnamed Wang, confirmed to Xiang Yang Video that the campaign is legitimate, stating: “The challenge is real and already underway, and registration will close once we reach 30 participants. So far, around seven or eight people have signed up.”

Notably, the registration fee is 10,000 yuan (US$1,400 or Rs 1,24, 346.50), which covers meals and accommodation in shared rooms. However, other details, like the training regimen, were not shared.

As the fitness challenge continues to garner significant interest online, we asked experts about its viability.

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Consultant dietitian and fitness expert Garima Goyal said that the idea of losing 50 kg in three months is extremely ambitious and poses significant risks from a nutrition and health perspective. “Evidence from long-term weight-loss research shows that most safe and sustainable loss happens at a much slower pace — such as around 0.5–1 kg per week or 5–10 per cent of body weight over a month. Rapid weight loss at the magnitude implied by this challenge can increase muscle loss, cause nutrient deficiencies, stress organs, and heighten the risk of rebound gain,” said Goyal.

Here’s what you should do (Photo: Freepik)

Moreover, linking a major lifestyle change to a prize (such as a Porsche) shifts the focus from health and sustainable behaviour to a short-term output, she contended. “This mindset may drive extreme dietary or exercise practices that are unsustainable and potentially harmful. Long-term health benefits rely not just on the number on the scale, but on consistent improvements in diet quality, movement habits, recovery and mindset,” said Goyal.

While the challenge may generate motivation or visibility, it’s not advisable as a health strategy. “Weight loss of that scale in that timeframe should only be attempted under strict medical supervision, with personalised nutrition, monitored training, and longer-term planning for maintenance,” said Goyal.

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For most people, a gradual, steady approach rooted in long-term habit change is safer, more realistic, and far more likely to yield lasting results.

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DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

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