Singaporean’s China weight-loss camp experience

Most participants sign on for three to six months, while others enrol to adjust their lifestyles and stay onsite for just one month, Cong says.

Longer-term packages cost up to 9,880 yuan (S$1,870) a person for a month, while shorter stays are pro-rated accordingly. Participants have to stay onsite for a minimum of one week.

The training camp sees around 1,000 participants a year on average. He estimates that roughly 35 per cent are male and 65 per cent are female, ranging typically in age from 25 to 45.

Only about 1 per cent of camp participants are foreign nationals, he says. The rest come from Guangdong province and other parts of China.

A growing market is Malaysia – in 2025, he saw a total of 10 participants from the country. 

“We would love to reach more international audiences, but among our biggest hurdles is the language barrier. Currently, we conduct the full programme in Mandarin, and will need time to invest in English-speaking staff and training if we want to expand,” he says in Mandarin.

At the time of Tan’s participation, from May 23 to June 6, the camp had around 100 participants and nine personal trainers. Participants were divided into five groups, with about 20 participants assigned to two trainers.

Tan says she was already working out regularly for six months before the camp, so its exercise regimen was not too physically daunting. Her routine in Singapore included rock-climbing or jogging 3km to 5km at least three times a week.

Upon signing up, she had already reduced her weight from 90kg to 78kg through diet and exercise. But she adds: “I didn’t want to spend my 30s in pain or having aches that would obstruct me from living my best life. I know I may not look obese, but I could be healthier. I needed to change my lifestyle.” 

Her two-week programme, costing $800, included accommodation at five-star Jin Zheng He Hotel, all meals and training sessions. She also spent an additional $400 on return flights from Singapore to Shenzhen on Shenzhen Airlines.

Meals were served at 8am, 11.30am and 5pm daily, and typically consisted of vegetables, eggs, lean proteins such as chicken or fish, soup or soya bean milk, and carbohydrates such as purple grain rice.

Hour-long workouts – including strength training, spin classes, aerobic step exercises and high intensity interval training – were conducted thrice a day at 9.30am, 3pm and 6.30pm.

At the end of each day, participants stepped onto the weighing scale to track their progress. Those who fell short of their daily targets were encouraged to do an additional hour-long workout. But this was not compulsory, says Cong.

While the programme was intensive, it was less regimented than Tan expected. Instead of being driven by punishment, she says participants were motivated by a combination of accountability, peer support and visible progress everyone made each day.

“The trainers also understood that a short two-week programme had its limitations and that we, as foreigners, may not be used to their food or weather. So, they were definitely more lenient with us,” says Tan. 

By the end of the camp, she lost 4kg, bringing her weight down to 74kg.

Medical practitioners were not stationed onsite, but Cong says all his trainers are certified and trained in first aid. The nearest hospital is a 15-minute drive away. 

“For clients with existing health problems, such as morbid obesity, heart problems or other issues, we will advise them to get a physical examination first and follow the doctor’s guidelines,” he says.

Weight-loss camps are often criticised for producing dramatic short-term results that can be difficult to sustain once participants return to normal routines. 

Some of the initial weight loss, health experts note, may be attributed to reduction in water weight rather than body fat. 

Tan Kok Kuan, who specialises in obesity management, says significant weight fluctuations can occur when participants adopt tightly controlled diets, particularly those that restrict carbohydrate intake. 

The medical director of private practice Dr Tan Medical Center says: “Carbohydrates draw water to themselves. So, once your carbohydrate intake drops, the water level in your body also drops and you can see a significant reduction in weight.”

He recommends that interested participants first consult a general practitioner (GP) about their overall health and weight-loss goals before joining a weight-loss camp.

He adds that while BMI is useful for broad screening, it cannot distinguish between weight from fat and weight from muscle mass, which can miscategorise fit and muscular individuals as “overweight” or “obese”.

For a more holistic assessment, doctors also take into account other biometric parameters such as waist circumference. 

While weight loss is almost guaranteed in a camp setting, keeping the weight off afterwards is more challenging.

“In a very controlled environment, like a camp – where every calorie is accounted for and the patient really doesn’t have to live life in any other way – he or she can achieve this kind of lifestyle and lose weight,” says Tan.

“The problem is that a small imbalance in the calorie intake and output can lead to weight gain. Furthermore, our hormones naturally fight back against weight loss and push us to put the weight back on. It’s really an uphill battle. I’m not saying people can’t do it. I’m saying it’s going to be very difficult.” 

Despite these caveats, Tan feels there can be benefits to weight-loss camps.

If training camps impose the right regimen, it can be an educational experience for participants to learn healthy habits and understand nutrition better. 

“These camps have a very artificial environment, which most of us probably cannot replicate in our daily lives. So, I hope participants get all this knowledge on calories and macronutrients and how to exercise in those weeks, and incorporate that into their lives,” he says.

Alvan Lim, head coach at fitness centre Oompf Fitness, recommends building an exercise routine beforehand, so the body can adapt to more intense activity levels.

“You need to prepare yourself mentally and physically, so it will help you to get through the camp more smoothly. Understanding your body and knowing its limits is also important, so if you experience any issues – like breathing difficulty or chest pain – you should let the trainers know,” he says.

Collectively, Alexis Tan’s social media videos about her journey have racked up over two million views.

Since her videos went viral, Cong has noted an increase in overseas interest. From June 10 to 11, he received inquiries from at least 23 foreigners, the majority of which are likely from Singapore.

But Tan’s videos also have many viewers weighing in on the sustainability of such weight-loss methods in the comments section.

Taking all that on board, Tan reflects: “I think following the camp routine exactly is not possible because I don’t have as much time to work out in Singapore. But keeping this healthy mindset for long is possible.

“More than just losing weight, I wanted to make my health and well-being a priority. I think to that extent, I have succeeded.”