Weight management has now been legislated. On December 18, the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou Municipal People's Congress announced that the "Hangzhou Public Health Promotion Regulation" (referred to as the "Regulation"), approved by the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, will officially take effect on January 1 next year. This makes Hangzhou the first city in China to implement local legislation focused on public health promotion.
As early as June last year, the National Health Commission and 15 other departments launched the "Weight Management Year" campaign. During this year's National People's Congress sessions, National Health Commission Director Lei Haichao reiterated the importance of weight management, pledging to continue advancing the initiative and urging governments, industries, employers, and individuals to fulfill their responsibilities. Hangzhou's pioneering legislation on resident weight management marks another step in the national push for healthier lifestyles.
The Regulation addresses public health needs across multiple dimensions of daily life—from promoting health infrastructure to encouraging the food industry to reduce salt, fat, and sugar content. It advocates for "balanced diets, moderate exercise, and healthy weight" to improve public health literacy. Food producers, retailers, catering services, and employers are encouraged to participate in healthy dietary initiatives through measures such as nutritional labeling, dedicated "low-salt, low-fat, low-sugar" sections in stores, and workplace cafeteria options to foster healthier consumer habits.
Alongside dietary control, the Regulation emphasizes physical activity. It calls for expanding public health infrastructure, including parks, greenways, and accessible facilities, while establishing exercise prescription databases tailored to different demographics to guide scientific fitness and rehabilitation. The integration of AI in healthcare is also promoted to accelerate smart medical services, digital health management, and personalized health alerts, including family doctor services.
Reports indicate that Hangzhou will explore a "health points reward system," where residents earn redeemable points for participating in health education and fitness activities, which can be exchanged for services like medical check-ups and traditional Chinese therapy.
Why Hangzhou? Zhejiang has long prioritized sports development, and as the host city of the Hangzhou Asian Games, it has leveraged post-event resources to enhance public fitness. Over 15 million people have accessed its sports facilities since their public opening. Hangzhou, among China's earliest health-focused cities, has led in both practice and innovation. In April, it established the country's first provincial-level Healthy Weight Guidance Center.
Public feedback was incorporated into the Regulation after a draft was released earlier. Data shows over 25% of Hangzhou’s children and adolescents aged 6–17 face overweight or obesity issues. The city has introduced tailored health programs, including 73 weight management clinics since 2023 and a collaborative "school-family-medical-community" mechanism for youth mental health.
By 2024, Hangzhou's average life expectancy reached 84.18 years, with a public health literacy rate of 46.52%. The Regulation has sparked widespread discussion, with many netizens urging their own regions to follow suit with more fitness-friendly policies. Some working professionals, however, cite time constraints as a barrier to regular exercise. The draft previously proposed workplace health initiatives, such as on-site health stations with basic equipment and mental health support.
Comments