Does China have a prison for 'fat' people? Not really. China's known 'fat prison' is not a criminal detention centre, rather it's a place where overweight people are shedding the extra kilos.
It is a locked space with a regimented life. Obese and overweight people join the programme by paying $1000 (Rs 90,953) for a month-long course. They also have a shorter, two-week stay package. Depending on the package, they undergo intense training and a strict diet.
The videos of the training in 'fat prison' was shared by social media influencer on Instagram. One of the videos shared by her showed a mass spinning class resembling a rave--with loud music and flashing lights.
Inside China's 'fat prison'
Inside the prison, participants sleep in shared rooms with up to five people. They train four hours a day and attend 19 different exercises each week.
The day starts at 7:30 in the morning with the first activity on the list: checking the weight. Then comes the morning aerobic class. After a one and half long hour class, food is served--which is rich with veggies and protein. There is no carbohydrate in the meal.
The harder exercises continue with afternoon weight training from 2-4 pm, followed by another meal. Then comes the HIIT class, followed by an hour-long evening spin class. The day would end with checking their weight.
From 7:40 pm, participants are free, and Sundays are designated rest days, aside from a mandatory evening spinning class. Meals are served on stainless steel trays and measured sparingly.
One of the videos that went viral showed breakfast, which consisted of a single slice of bread, a small amount of tomato and cucumber and four hard-boiled eggs. Lunch is considered the main and most filling meal of the day, featuring dishes such as roasted duck, lotus root, stir-fried vegetables and a banana for dessert.
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These facilities have locked gates and perimeter fencing with huge walls on all sides, and no participant can leave at their will during the course unless they have a valid reason.
One of the influencers, whose videos went viral, posted on Instagram how she lost four kgs in 14 days at one of these facilities.