Lose 50 kg in 3 months, win a Porsche? Chinese gym's viral weight-loss challenge sparks debate online

If only shedding pounds could win you a Porsche!


Turns out this isn’t a daydream anymore. A gym in China is turning heads with a bold and controversial offer: lose 50 kg (about 110 lbs) in three months, and you could win a Porsche Panamera as the grand prize!


What’s happening

A gym in northern China has ignited a global buzz — and a serious debate — with its latest fitness stunt. In a bold move, the fitness center in Binzhou, Shandong province, is offering a luxury car — a Porsche Panamera — as the grand prize for anyone who can lose 50 kg in just three months.

The initiative, which requires participants to pay a hefty registration fee — covering meals and accommodation — and commit to intensive training, has sparked admiration for its ambition and concern from health experts for its potential risks.



What exactly is the challenge about

The gym located in Binzhou, Shandong province, posted promotional material online that read: lose 50 kg in three months and you'll drive away with the Porsche.

Now, there’s a significant amount to be paid to enter the challenge as the registration fee, which is 10,000 yuan (around US$1,400 or 1.2 lacs INR). The registration fee covers meals and shared accommodation at a training facility over the three-month period. A coach, surnamed Wang, confirmed the offer is “real” and the program is underway, with seven to eight entrants already signed up.

Participants are expected to undergo intensive training, follow strict diets, and live in a controlled environment designed to push dramatic weight loss. However, the gym’s public disclosures do not provide full details of safety monitoring, qualification criteria, or long-term support for participants.

At the end of those three months, if any participant can shed 50 kg (110 lbs), they will drive away with a Porsche Panamera, which has an official starting price of around 1.1 million yuan (around US$155,000 or 2 crores INR) in mainland China.

However, Zeng mentioned that the Porsche being offered belongs to the gym owner and is a used 2020 model that he has driven for several years, not a new car.



The red flags

Now, the fitness challenge launched by a fitness center in Binzhou is designed to grab attention, and it has — for all of its red flags! On one hand, there’s this novelty of a luxury car as a fitness reward; on the other, social media users have questioned the actual viability of the challenge. Some internet users on Chinese platforms reportedly mocked the idea, asking, “If I lose 50 kg, I'll only have 5 kg left. Will I still be alive?”, while others commented, "No one can actually achieve this. Losing 50kg in three months? You'll lose the person, not just the weight. With a 10,000-yuan registration fee, the organiser could afford to buy a new car while keeping the used one. In the end, he profits. It's a clever marketing move."

Meanwhile, medical experts weighed in.

According to the health community, losing about 0.55 kg per day, or nearly 4 kg per week, and almost 17 kg per month, goes far beyond medically recommended safe rates.

A medical influencer known as "Dr Zeng," who performed the hernia surgery and has nearly 3.5 million followers on Weibo, told South China Morning Post about the dangers of such rapid weight loss, saying, "Losing 0.5kg per day is far too fast." He also emphasized the potential health risks associated with losing weight at that speed, and mentioned, "Unless someone is severely overweight, this pace leads to muscle loss rather than fat reduction, which can cause hormonal imbalances, hair loss, and even amenorrhoea in women. A safer target is losing around 0.5kg per week."

Another expert, Pu Yansong, a gastrointestinal surgeon at Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, also cautioned, "Losing weight at such a rapid pace can strain the organs and may even be life-threatening. Scientific weight loss should be gradual, allowing the brain, body fat, muscles, and organs to adapt to the new energy balance."

Taking this huge a risk, that too for an old car?

Seems quite ludicrous!



Health risks of rapid weight loss

What could possibly happen if one pushed their body to the extent of shedding 50 kg in three months? In extreme weight loss,

One could encounter physical side effects like muscle loss (which can slow your metabolism and lead to weakness), nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, and dizziness (dehydration and a lack of proper nutrition can cause a significant drop in energy levels), digestive issues (constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion), and dehydration, and can even lead to the development of gallstones. Nutritional deficiencies and stress on the body can lead to excessive hair fall and dry and itchy skin.

As for metabolic and long-term effects, rapid weight loss could slow down metabolism, leading to weakened bones, the development of gout, and an increased risk of diabetes.

Extreme weight loss has an array of mental and emotional side effects as well. It can trigger irritability and mood swings, leading to anxiety and depression, or even develop an unhealthy obsession with food.


Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional medical, nutritional, or fitness advice. Each individual’s health condition is unique — before participating in any extreme weight-loss challenge, making major lifestyle changes, or engaging in high-intensity exercise programs, you should consult a qualified healthcare provider or fitness specialist. The positions and claims of the gym featured are not endorsed by the publisher, and readers assume full responsibility for any decisions based on this content.