Hangzhou to monitor residents’ weight as part of obesity fight
The city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province has adopted a municipal health ordinance aimed, among other goals, at combating obesity. The regulation will take effect on January 1, 2026, and explicitly calls on residents to “methodically monitor their weight.”
Source Sixthtone
The ordinance includes regular health monitoring of the population, expansion of sports infrastructure, and mandatory employment of dietitians in schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and elderly care homes. Residents will receive bonuses for exercising and undergoing medical procedures, which can be redeemed for services at clinics, gyms, and educational institutions.
According to the World Obesity Federation’s 2025 data, 41% of adult Chinese suffer from overweight or obesity. In Hangzhou, 30.5% of adults are overweight and 9% are obese. This initiative by local authorities could significantly improve public health outcomes in the coming years.
