Across China: A fight against fat, for baby

Five years ago, Lin Yue and Deng Yang met and fell in love during a weight loss program. Now, as they prepare for their first child, they are returning to weight loss after years of gains.

Married in March, the couple was told by doctors that severe obesity could lead to difficult conception and health risks for their child. In order to give their future child the healthiest life possible, they pledged to spend a whole year in the hospital, aiming to lose 220 pounds each, half of their current weight.

A health check found they both had fatty livers, hyperlipidemia and hypertension, all symptoms related to obesity.

"We want a healthy baby of normal weight. It means we must change now," said Lin, the 29-year-old husband.

Coverage of the couple's efforts has drawn curiosity, since morbidly obese people are not common in China.

However, a government report released earlier this year uncovered a worrisome trend that Chinese are growing overweight much faster than people in developed countries.

During the program in 2010, a hospital in northeast China's Jilin Province helped the couple each lose about 100 pounds out of 300 pounds.

But after returning to their home in Sichuan Province, the couple indulged in their appetites and returned to sedentary life. Their bodies rapidly ballooned once more.

They chose the same hospital for the new therapy, which began in late November. Following measures including a specific diet, workouts and traditional Chinese therapy, Lin has lost some 50 pounds while Deng temporarily abandoned the plan for her job.

They are facing a bumpy road ahead. Doctor Yu Shuzhong is working on their case. He said losing the first pounds would be easy, but achieving the final goal would require "strong willpower."

Lin is following a strict diet only allowing him to eat a third of the food he used to consume, mainly vegetables. Acupuncture has been used to help reduce hunger and increase metabolism.

"It's really tough, but I won't give up," he said.

In addition to the baby, another motivation for the couple to lose weight is to have a new lease of life and recover confidence.

At home, they sleep on two king-size double beds that were put together and reinforced. Many routine daily actions, such as tieing shoes, can not be performed without the other's help.

They have seldom taken public transit. "Taxi drivers always ignored us due to our size, and everyone on the bus stared at us," said Deng, 27.

They buy nearly everything online to avoid traditional shopping, as well as refuse to hang out with friends.

The family's economic situation is worsening. Their parents have to help with their bills, as Lin lost his job as a welder at his father-in-law's steel plant due to his physical condition.

As the only breadwinner, Deng earns 2,800 yuan (430 U.S. dollars) a month as a nurse, while 2,100 yuan is used to pay for mortgage.

"I hope to get back to work soon and gradually take over the plant. My father-in-law is near retirement," Lin said. Endi