China’s younger generation hit the gym in search of sculpted bodies
The ‘ideal’ body image is changing on the mainland, and more people are willing to pay both time and money to achieve it
Jessica Xiao has a hectic job working as an executive’s assistant at an international car company in Beijing, but she still finds time to work out. To stay motivated, she meets her personal trainer twice a week at a local gym.
“I want to have a firm body and improve my overall look. I like the idea that exercising is part of my life,” the 27-year-old said. Like Xiao, many young people are turning to fitness training, be it hiring a private coach, working out in a gym or simply following videos on a yoga mat at home.
And with the toned arms and tummies come bragging rights. Social media is awash in selfies of young mainlanders showing off the results of their sessions. Others regularly post their workout statistics, such as the distance they cover on a nightly run.
Gyms cash in on China’s ‘fitness fever’ as women pursue that healthy glow
Xiao is content with a monthly “fitness report”, which gives figures for her body mass index, body fat ratio and waist hip ratio. She’s encouraged by their steady improvement.
One of the most popular fitness apps is Keep, developed by Beijing Calorie Information Technology. It had been downloaded 40 million times up to June, with 10 million active users.