Entry Fee of 2 Million Won and Group Living... Used Porsche as Prize
Medical Experts Warn "Life-Threatening"
Netizens Call It "Reckless Marketing"
A gym in China has sparked controversy by launching an ultra-high-stakes event promising a Porsche to anyone who loses 50 kilograms within three months. Online, users flooded the topic with questions about whether it was even possible, while the medical community issued warnings that the challenge could be dangerous.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on October 29 (local time), a fitness center in Binzhou, Shandong Province, China, announced a weight loss challenge online on October 23, offering a Porsche Panamera to anyone who sheds 50 kilograms within three months. The official market price of the vehicle is around 1.1 million yuan (approximately 220 million won).
The gym’s trainer, surnamed Wang, told local media Shangyang Video in an interview that “this challenge is a legitimate event and will close once 30 participants have registered.” So far, 7 to 8 people have applied, and the participation fee is 10,000 yuan (about 2 million won).
Participants will stay together in a confined space, with meals and accommodation provided, but specific details regarding the diet, training methods, and achievement criteria have not been disclosed.
Wang also explained that “the Porsche offered as a prize is the personal vehicle of the gym owner and is a used 2020 model, not a brand-new car.”
As the event attracted attention, concerns were raised within the medical community. Experts warned that such extreme weight loss in a short period could place severe strain on the body.
Fu Yansong, a gastrointestinal surgeon at Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, pointed out, “Losing weight at such a rapid pace can cause organ damage and may even be life-threatening. Weight loss should proceed gradually, allowing the brain, body fat, muscles, and organs to adapt to a new energy balance.”
Reactions from Chinese netizens to the event have been largely negative. Online, critical comments included, “If you lose 50 kilograms, there will be nothing left of your body,” and “The organizers could buy a new car just with the participation fees.” Some also suggested, “This is just marketing, setting an unachievable goal from the start to attract attention,” and raised suspicions that “participants are being used as a promotional tool.”
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