"Lost Weight and Got a $4,000 Bonus"... Which Company Is Handing Out Rewards?

Aiming to Promote Health Management Beyond Work

A Chinese company is making headlines for giving out bonuses to employees every time they lose weight.

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On September 6, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Arashi Vision, a technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, China, has attracted local attention by launching the "1 Million Yuan Weight Loss Challenge." Held annually, the challenge aims to motivate employees to lead healthier lives by exercising regularly and maintaining a balanced diet.

All employees are eligible to participate in the challenge, and for every 0.5kg of weight lost, participants receive a cash reward of 500 yuan (approximately 97,500 won). In fact, one employee, Xie Yaqi, lost 20kg in three months through the challenge, earning a bonus of 20,000 yuan (about 3.9 million won) and being named the "Weight Loss Champion."

Xie emphasized that throughout the challenge, she carefully managed her diet and maintained healthy habits, such as exercising for an hour and a half every day. She stated, "I believe this is the best time in my life to be at my best," adding, "Health is just as important as beauty."

The company has held the challenge seven times since 2022, awarding a total of 2 million yuan (about 390 million won) in prize money to date. Last year alone, 99 employees participated, collectively losing 950kg, and the company distributed 1 million yuan (about 195 million won) in bonuses. During that round, another employee, Xiao Cui, who lost 30kg, received a bonus of 15,000 yuan (about 2.83 million won). At the bonus ceremony, another participant drew laughter by exclaiming, "This is all my fat!"

The challenge includes not only prize money but also a penalty clause. If participants regain the weight they lost, they must pay 800 yuan (about 156,000 won) for every 0.5kg regained. However, it is reported that no one has had to pay a penalty so far.

A company representative stated, "Through this challenge, our goal is to encourage employees to prioritize their health outside of work," adding, "This plays a positive role in allowing employees to work with renewed passion."

A company based in Chengdu, China, also offers a bonus of up to 4,000 yuan (about 780,000 won) to employees who achieve their weight loss targets over a period of three to six months. However, employees must maintain their reduced weight for six months after the challenge to receive the bonus, and if they regain weight, they must return the bonus.

Meanwhile, obesity has emerged as a social issue in China, as in other countries. In 2022, the adult obesity rate in China reached 50.7%, more than double the rate 20 years ago. Some studies estimate that by 2030, the overweight and obesity rate among Chinese adults will reach 65.3%, and the resulting medical expenses will amount to 418 billion yuan (about 77.33 trillion won), accounting for about 21.5% of the nation's total healthcare costs.

As a result, in June last year, China launched the "Year of Weight Management," a three-year plan (2024-2026) led by the National Health Commission and 16 other ministries. The purpose of this initiative is to improve physical fitness and curb the rise in the national overweight and obesity rate.