Gym offers Porsche car for losing 50 kg within 3 months

The contest, launched on Oct. 23, is limited to 30 participants, according to Chinese daily newspaper World Journal, and seven or eight people had registered within two days.

Each has to pay 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) for a three-month training program that includes accommodation and three meals a day.

"Our competition will push contestants to their limits. We provide professional training and diet guidance to ensure safe weight loss," Wang, a trainer at the gym, said.

A Porsche Taycan Turbo. Photo from Instagram

The event aims to "motivate people to improve their health through tangible rewards," he said. "It is my boss’s car, a genuine Porsche that he has used for several years." In China, a new Porsche Panamera starts at over 1 million yuan ($140,100).

But the weight loss challenge drew criticism from health experts, who said losing 50 kg in three months is an extreme goal that poses serious health risks and instead recommended losing 0.5-1 kg per week for safe and sustainable results.

Many fitness trainers said rapid weight loss without medical supervision could lead to muscle loss, hormonal imbalance and cardiovascular strain.

The contest has become a viral topic on Chinese social media, with some people finding the contest exciting but most questioning its feasibility. "Lose 50 kilograms? I would probably die before getting the car," one comment read. Another joked, "Maybe I should gain weight first before signing up."

The contest organizers said the training plan would be adjusted based on each participant’s condition and monitored by professional trainers.

Reports said China’s booming weight-loss camp industry has come under scrutiny after several incidents involving extreme weight cutting methods.

In June 2023 a 21-year-old social media influencer named Cuihua died while attending one such camp in Shaanxi Province.

The media reported she lost around 27 kilograms in two months through high-intensity training and a strict diet. Her death sparked a nationwide debate over safety and regulations in the industry.

Weight-loss camps typically attract clients with promises of quick results and combine hours of daily exercise with low-calorie diets.

While some facilities are run by professionals, reports have pointed to inconsistent safety standards and staff qualifications across the industry.