“From Burnout to Breakthrough: How One Woman’s 45-Pound Weight Gain Sparked a Life-Altering Transformation!”
The “996” culture is facing backlash in Chinese society, with many young professionals leaving their high-pressure careers in the city in pursuit of a healthier work-life balance in small towns.
Data from Shanghai-based consultancy MetroDataTech for 2023 show a net outflow of people in Shanghai and China’s leading innovation hub, Shenzhen, as many workers return to their familiar hometowns, where the cost of living is also lower.
After quitting the company in June, the young woman was able to lose 6kg (13 pounds)
Image credits: Weibo
Although the country’s “996” routine might exacerbate its effects, the correlation between weight gain and burnout is not exclusive to China.
A 2019 study from researchers at the University of Athens found that employees who feel overworked or burned out adopt unhealthy behaviors that can cause weight gain.
Researchers recruited nearly 1,000 men and women working full-time jobs and asked them to answer questions about their workloads, feelings of exhaustion or burnout, nutrition, and physical activity.
The results showed that exhausted employees with demanding workloads were more likely to engage in emotional eating and consume meals that have more fat.
Additionally, exhaustion was negatively related to physical activity levels.
“Workload and exhaustion are associated with nutrition and physical activity behaviors that promote weight gain and should be considered in weight management interventions for working adults,” the authors concluded.
A 2019 study from the University of Athens found that employees who feel overworked or burned out adopt unhealthy behaviors that can cause weight gain
