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A gym in China has gone viral after offering a Porsche Panamera worth Rs 1.3 crore to anyone who loses 50 kg in 3 months, but doctors warn that the extreme challenge could turn deadly instead of rewarding.
The registration fee for the challenge is 10,000 yuan.
Binzhou: In an unprecedented move that’s sparked both fascination and concern, a gym in Binzhou, Shandong province, China, has announced a dramatic fitness contest that anyone who sheds 50 kilograms within three months will drive away in a Porsche Panamera.
The challenge, launched on October 23, was first reported by a Chinese news agency and later confirmed by South China Morning Post (SCMP). The luxury car, valued at about 1.1 million yuan (approximately Rs 1.36 crore), serves as the grand prize in what many are calling one of the most ambitious and risky fitness campaigns ever attempted.
A fitness coach surnamed Wang told a local outlet, Xiang Yang Video, that the competition is indeed real and already underway. “Registration will close once we have 30 participants. So far, around seven or eight people have signed up,” Wang said.
Participants must pay a 10,000-yuan (Rs 1.23 lakh) registration fee, which includes accommodation and meals for the entire three-month program. Contestants will stay in a fully enclosed facility, sharing rooms with other participants. However, the gym has not disclosed specifics about the workout regimen, diet plan, or how progress will be measured.
Interestingly, the Porsche being offered is not brand new. “The car belongs to the gym owner and is a 2020 model he has driven for several years,” Wang clarified, adding a twist that has only intensified online discussions.
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The offer has triggered a frenzy on Chinese social media, where users expressed skepticism and concern over the feasibility and safety of losing 50 kilograms in just 90 days.
One Weibo user joked, “If I lose 50 kg, I’ll only have 5 kg left. Will I still be alive?” Another commented, “You’ll lose the person, not just the weight! The organiser probably makes more money from registration fees than the car is worth. Genius marketing!”
While many found humor in the campaign, others called it irresponsible and potentially dangerous, accusing the gym of exploiting people’s insecurities for publicity.
Doctors warn rapid weight loss can cause severe health risks.
Health professionals across China have condemned the challenge, warning that the targeted rate of weight loss, about 0.5 kilograms per day, is not only unsustainable but could be life-threatening.
A medical influencer known as “Dr Zeng, who performed the hernia surgery,” cautioned: “Losing 0.5 kg per day is extremely dangerous. Unless a person is severely obese, this pace leads to muscle loss, hormonal disruption, hair loss, and even amenorrhea in women. Safe weight loss should be around 0.5 kg per week.”
Supporting this, Dr Pu Yansong, a gastrointestinal surgeon at Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, said that rapid fat loss can put enormous stress on vital organs. “Such an intense process doesn’t give the body enough time to adjust, potentially leading to organ failure or other serious complications,” he warned.
While critics call the challenge a reckless publicity stunt, it has undeniably drawn attention to the gym. Experts, however, are urging people not to fall for sensational offers that jeopardize their health. Safe and sustainable fitness, they say, is built through gradual changes, not extreme short-term fixes.
As the campaign gains international attention, health officials are reportedly reviewing whether such competitions violate fitness and safety regulations in China.
