Chinese influencer dies trying to lose 100 kg at weight-loss camp. Experts reveal how much training is too much
Cuihua aimed to lose 100 kilograms. Photo:Twitter
In today's day and age, influencers go to great lengths to maintain their fame and popularity. However, this relentless pursuit of attention and success doesn't always yield positive outcomes and can sometimes result in tragedy.
A similar incident has resurfaced from northwestern China involving an influencer who tragically lost her life while attempting to shed more than half of her body weight (100 kgs) at a weight-loss boot camp.
What happened?
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21-year-old Zhou (with a social media name Cuihua), who hailed from the Northwestern region of China, had been battling obesity and set a courageous goal to shed more than half of her body weight.
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Cuihua turned to Douyin, China's popular platform akin to TikTok, to share her 'inspiring transformation'.
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She shared her challenges, triumphs, and the intense training exercises she was going through.
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With a starting weight of 156 kilograms (344 pounds), she aimed to lose an astounding 100 kilograms.
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However, things took a turn after she attended a weight loss camp in Shaanxi province and died two days after her return.
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According to CNN, this was not the first time she had joined a weight loss camp. In fact, she had joined several recently, as her goal was to lose 27 kilograms in the next two months.
The latest
Despite the weight loss camp Cuihua attended emphasizing the importance of "balanced nutrition, sufficient rest, and healthy exercise," media reports suggest that Cuihua chose to restrict her diet while engaging in intense exercise, a combination that proved disastrous.
[READ MORE: Influencers swear by the Calorie Deficit Diet for weight loss. Dieticians have a warning though]
In response to the incident, Cuihua's training videos have been deleted from her account, and her pictures have been removed.
- State media outlets disclosed that the influencer's family received some form of compensation from the weight loss camp in Shaanxi.
- Local authorities have initiated an investigation into Cuihua's untimely death. They are examining whether the weight loss camp conducted excessive or inappropriate training methods as part of their inquiry.
- The news of her untimely death sent shockwaves throughout the country and ignited a heated debate surrounding the influencer industry. As reported by CNN, state media raised concerns about the safety risks associated with weight-loss camps, prompting calls for tighter regulations to protect individuals pursuing extreme weight-loss endeavors.
This comes just weeks after a young man from China lost his life while live-streaming excessive alcohol consumption.
Now, how much exercise is too much?
Monugiri Goshwami, a gym instructor from Noida, who has been in this profession for more than 20 years, explains that determining the threshold for excessive training can vary depending on various factors such as an individual's fitness level, overall health, and specific goals.
For instance, he says if you're a 22-year-old woman, and are just starting your weight loss journey, aim for 3-5 sessions per week, with each session lasting around 30-60 minutes.
He also says that it is important that if you're just starting off, that you have at least one day of rest between sessions for muscle recovery. This can be done, by including strength training (at least 2-3 days) and stretching exercises (end of each workout session).
How to spot if you're doing too much?
Monugiri says that signs of overtraining may include:
- Persistent fatigue
- decreased performance
- increased injuries
- disrupted sleep patterns
Do we actually need fat camps now?
After the death of Cuihua, a question is stuck in our minds: It's 2023 do we still need fat camps, which can turn toxic too fast?
Dr Shyam Sharma, a physician from Assam, explains that the need for weight loss camps can be subjective and dependent on individual circumstances.
Weight loss camps can offer a structured and supportive environment for individuals seeking to improve their health and achieve their weight loss goals. However, it is important to note that weight loss camps are not a one-size-fits-all solution.