SINGAPORE \u2013 In May 2024, Alexis Tan watched a clip of herself doing a television interview and could barely recognise herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew I would look a bit different on television, but I didn\u2019t expect to look that different. I looked so tired and lethargic,\u201d says the 32-year-old Singaporean interior designer. At her heaviest then, she weighed 90kg.<\/p>\n
At 172cm tall, her body mass index (BMI) \u2013 a measure that uses height and weight to estimate total body fat \u2013 placed her in the obese category.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tan says years of forgoing regular exercise and proper nutrition had taken a toll on her health. The demands of her job often meant long hours, late nights and poor sleep, making it difficult to maintain healthy habits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout my life, there were years when I was slimmer and years when I had gained some weight. In the years that I was bigger in size, people would ask me things like \u2018Why are your clothes so big?\u2019 or \u2018Is your bag so big to match your body size?\u2019\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe comments hurt, but I just laughed them off because I was so used to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
She first came across specialised weight-loss camps in China<\/span><\/a> when an Australian content creator, TL Huang, posted about her personal experience on Instagram in November 2025.\u00a0At the time, Huang was attending a \u201cfat camp\u201d in Huizhou \u2013 a city to the east of Guangzhou \u2013 where she lost 6kg in 28 days.\u00a0<\/p>\n Intrigued by the idea, Tan reached out to Huang to ask for more information and started researching such camps with her interior designer colleague, Chloe Chang. A 23-year-old Malaysian, Chang was also interested in shedding a few kilos.<\/p>\n Chang, who is 158cm tall and weighed 68kg then, and 64kg now, says: \u201cOver the years, I\u2019ve tried many weight-loss methods \u2013 from slimming products to exercising to dieting \u2013 but maybe because I wasn\u2019t very consistent, I didn\u2019t see any lasting results.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known of such camps for a while now because of social media and have been wanting to try attending one.\u201d<\/p>\n After getting details about multiple camps over Chinese messaging platform WeChat, they signed up for a two-week stint at Chasing Dreams Weight Loss Training Camp in Dongguan, a city between Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China.\u00a0<\/p>\n At around $800, it cost roughly 20 per cent more than other camp options, primarily because it was conducted in an upscale hotel, with the choice of a 43 sq m room for each participant.\u00a0The cost covered all meals, daily training sessions and accommodation. Airfare and other incidentals were borne by participants.\u00a0<\/p>\n A mass training session at Chasing Dreams Weight Loss Training Camp.<\/p>\n PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALEXIS TAN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Such <\/b>weight-loss camps are proliferating across China as obesity rates rise in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite increasing national efforts to encourage weight loss<\/span><\/a>, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in China <\/b>reached 57 per cent in 2023, according to a research paper published in the peer-reviewed journal ScienceDirect in March.<\/p>\n Without effective intervention, it is projected that up to 72 per cent of Chinese adults could be overweight or obese by 2035. Obesity significantly increases the risk of serious medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke, according to the World Health Organization.\u00a0<\/p>\n Many of these Chinese \u201cfat camps\u201d \u2013 there are estimated to be at least 1,000 \u2013 promise to deliver swift weight-loss results within a couple of weeks through controlled daily routines, balanced meals and consistent exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the vast majority of participants are Chinese nationals, the number of international participants has been growing in recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n Social media has made such camps more discoverable. China\u2019s visa-free policy, rising popularity as a travel destination and relative affordability mean low entry barriers for those from abroad.<\/p>\n Mason Cong, head coach at Chasing Dreams Weight Loss Training Camp, tells The Straits Times there are three main types of people who sign up: those who want to lose weight, those who want to get stronger, and those who need a break and reset from unhealthy lifestyles for better mental and physical well-being.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tan doing a workout during her weight-loss camp experience in the city of Dongguan.<\/p>\n PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALEXIS TAN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Tan identifies most with the last group. She says: \u201cLosing weight felt like a given. But I wanted to break out of my lifestyle routine in Singapore. I felt like I was working so much, I was neglecting my health and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Longer-term packages cost up to 9,880 yuan (S$1,870) a person for a month, while shorter stays are pro-rated accordingly.\u00a0Participants have to stay onsite for a minimum of one week.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Only about 1 per cent of camp participants are foreign nationals, he says. The rest come from Guangdong province and other parts of China.<\/p>\n A growing market is Malaysia \u2013 in 2025, he saw a total of 10 participants from the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d he says in Mandarin.<\/p>\n At the time of Tan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n As part of her workouts in Singapore, Tan often goes on outdoor jogs.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Tan says she was already working out regularly for six months before the camp, so <\/b>its exercise regimen was not too physically daunting. Her routine in Singapore included <\/b>rock-climbing or jogging 3km to 5km at least three times a week.<\/p>\n Upon signing up, she had already reduced her weight from 90kg to 78kg through diet and exercise.\u00a0But she adds: \u201cI didn\u2019t 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The lobby of five-star Jin Zheng He Hotel in Dongguan city.<\/p>\n PHOTO: CHASING DREAMS WEIGHT LOSS TRAINING CAMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n One of the rooms that participants of Chasing Dreams Weight Loss Training Camp can stay in at Jin Zheng He Hotel.<\/p>\n PHOTO: CHASING DREAMS WEIGHT LOSS TRAINING CAMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 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.<\/p>\n Hour-long workouts \u2013 including strength training, spin classes, aerobic step exercises and high intensity interval training \u2013 were conducted thrice a day at 9.30am, 3pm and 6.30pm.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d says Tan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tan exercising during a class as part of her weight-loss camp experience. Hour-long workouts \u2013 including strength training, spin classes, aerobic step exercises and high intensity interval training \u2013 were conducted thrice a day.<\/p>\n PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALEXIS TAN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n By the end of the camp, she lost 4kg, bringing her weight down to 74kg.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFor 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\u2019s guidelines,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Weight-loss camps are often criticised for producing dramatic short-term results that can be difficult to sustain once participants return to normal routines.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some of the initial weight loss, health experts note, may be attributed to reduction in water weight rather than body fat.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n The medical director of private practice Dr Tan Medical Center says: \u201cCarbohydrates 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Tan Kok Kuan, a medical doctor specialising in men\u2019s health and obesity management, says significant weight fluctuations can occur when participants adopt tightly controlled diets.<\/p>\n PHOTO: DR TAN MEDICAL CENTER<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201coverweight\u201d or \u201cobese\u201d.<\/p>\n For a more holistic assessment, doctors also take into account other biometric parameters such as waist circumference.\u00a0<\/p>\n While weight loss is almost guaranteed in a camp setting, keeping the weight off afterwards is more challenging.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a very controlled environment, like a camp \u2013 where every calorie is accounted for and the patient really doesn\u2019t have to live life in any other way \u2013 he or she can achieve this kind of lifestyle and lose weight,\u201d says Tan.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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\u2019s really an uphill battle. I\u2019m not saying people can\u2019t do it. I\u2019m saying it\u2019s going to be very difficult.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite these caveats, Tan feels there can be benefits to weight-loss camps.<\/p>\n If training camps impose the right regimen, it can be an educational experience for participants to learn healthy habits and understand nutrition better.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThese 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,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cYou 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 \u2013 like breathing difficulty or chest pain \u2013 you should let the trainers know,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Collectively, Alexis Tan\u2019s social media videos about her journey have racked up over two million views.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n But Tan\u2019s videos also have many viewers weighing in on the sustainability of such weight-loss methods in the comments section.<\/p>\n Taking all that on board, Tan reflects: \u201cI think following the camp routine exactly is not possible because I don\u2019t have as much time to work out in Singapore. But keeping this healthy mindset for long is possible.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than just losing weight, I wanted to make my health and well-being a priority. I think to that extent, I have succeeded.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n SINGAPORE \u2013 In May 2024, Alexis Tan watched a clip of herself doing a television interview and could barely recognise herself. \u201cI knew I would…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=60157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/60158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=60157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=60157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=60157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/picture><\/div>
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