In a country grappling with a rising obesity crisis, a controversial solution has emerged: “Fat Prisons.” These are military-style boot camps where individuals, often feeling “stuck” or desperate for a physical transformation, pay roughly $1,000 (approx. 7,300 CNY) to be locked away for 28 days of grueling physical labor and caloric restriction.
The trend has recently gone viral thanks to ‘eggeats’, an Australian influencer who quit her corporate job to document her experience inside one of these facilities. Her “behind-the-bars” look at the regime has sparked a fierce debate about the ethics and safety of rapid, unsustainable weight loss.
The Daily Routine: A Punishing 12-Hour Schedule
Life inside the “fat prison” is designed to eliminate choice. Participants live in five-bed dormitories and are forbidden from leaving the premises, which are often secured by high fences and locked gates.
A typical day for an “inmate” includes:
- 07:30 AM: Wake-up call.
- 08:00 AM: Mandatory weigh-in (every gram is tracked).
- 09:20 AM – 10:30 AM: High-intensity aerobics.
- 11:15 AM: First Meal (typically 4 eggs, half a tomato, cucumber, and a single slice of bread).
- 02:50 PM – 04:00 PM: Heavy weight-lifting sessions.
- 04:00 PM – 06:00 PM: Back-to-back cardio, spin classes, and HIIT.
- Evening: Final weigh-in and lights out.
High Stakes and Health Risks
While the influencer reported losing 4 kg in just two weeks, health experts are sounding the alarm. The camps focus almost exclusively on “the number on the scale,” often ignoring long-term metabolic health or psychological well-being.
- Dangerous Intensity: Certified nutritionists warn that five to twelve hours of exercise a day is excessive even for professional athletes, let alone individuals who may not have an active baseline.
- Lack of Individualization: Meals are often “one size fits all,” regardless of a participant’s height, starting weight, or underlying medical conditions.
- Tragic Consequences: The industry was rocked in 2024 following the reported death of an influencer at a similar camp, leading to calls for stricter government regulation of the currently “wild west” slimming industry in China.
Why Are People Enrolling?
Despite the risks, the camps are booming. With nearly 50% of the Chinese adult population classified as overweight or obese as of 2025, the social pressure to be thin is immense. For many, the $1,000 fee is seen as a small price to pay for a “shortcut” to a new life. As ‘eggeats’ explained to her followers, she joined because she felt “stagnant” and needed a radical reset that only a controlled environment could provide.