A Shanghai man surnamed Liu spent 10,000 yuan (US$1,500) on online health products intended to help him gain weight, only to lose 6.5kg in a month. Liu, a 1.78m tall truck driver who initially weighed 63kg, had long considered himself too thin. His experience, reported by the Shanghai Morning Post, has trended on mainland Chinese social media.
The products were promoted by an influencer surnamed Chen, who shared expertise on weight gain. Liu purchased them in March after encountering Chen's social media account. The incident highlights risks in China's largely unregulated online health market, where consumers may fall prey to misleading claims.
According to the South China Morning Post, the specific products Liu bought were not named. No clinical data or official warnings from health authorities were cited in the report. The exact mechanism by which he lost weight instead of gaining it remains unclear.
For Liu, the outcome was financially and physically disappointing. The loss may deter him from similar purchases, but broader consumer protection concerns persist. Regulators in China have in the past cracked down on deceptive health product ads, though enforcement remains uneven.
Experts caution that online health products often lack scientific validation. Individual results can vary widely, and consumers should consult professionals before purchasing.