On October 22, the "Healthy China • AI + Weight Management Initiative" industry collaborative innovation seminar was successfully held at the National People's Congress Conference Center. This event was guided by the China Food and Drug Enterprises Quality and Safety Promotion Association and hosted by its Food Safety Committee, with FANGZHOU JIANKE (06086) as the organizer. Key figures such as Mao Zhenbin, President of the China Food and Drug Enterprises Quality and Safety Promotion Association, delivered remarks representing the guiding and hosting organizations. Experts and scholars, including Professor Chen Runsheng from the Institute of Biophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Ren Fazheng from the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, and Professor Yu Xiaodong, former Deputy Director of the Economic Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, convened to advance the standardization and regulation of the weight management industry while exploring innovative applications of AI technologies in this field.

During the seminar, the nationwide "Healthy China • AI + Weight Management Initiative" promotional action was officially launched. Attendees jointly issued the "Scientific Weight Loss" ecological co-construction initiative, marking the establishment of the first national-level academic exchange platform for weight loss and signifying a new development phase for the weight management sector from "isolated innovation" to "ecological upgrade."

With policies and technologies driving the dual engines, the normalization of weight management is urgently needed as the population of overweight and obese individuals continues to grow in China. The "2021 China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report" indicated that 11.98% of cardiovascular disease deaths in 2019 were attributable to high BMI (body mass index). Concurrently, the issues surrounding overweight present challenges to individuals' quality of life, while obesity-related medical costs pose a significant burden on the national economy, predicted to reach 418 billion yuan by 2030, accounting for approximately 21.5% of the country's total healthcare expenses.

Mao Zhenbin emphasized the significance of the seminar themed "Healthy China • AI + Weight Management Initiative" amid the urgent need to address the numerous pain points in traditional weight management methods. He stressed the inevitability of extensive AI application in weight management but cautioned that concerns over data security, algorithm ethics, and service normalization must be collectively acknowledged.

To facilitate the normalization of weight management, Mao Zhenbin stated that there needs to be a national-level exchange platform combining efforts from research, academia, industry, and regulatory bodies, inviting more accountable industry representatives like FANGZHOU JIANKE to collaboratively explore the establishment of technical standards compatible with AI-enabled health services, guiding orderly and high-quality industry development to ensure technological innovations benefit the public genuinely.

Focusing on the key changes needed to improve public perceptions of weight loss, Yu Xiaodong highlighted misconceptions surrounding weight management in China, such as prioritizing outcomes over processes and emphasizing dieting over exercise. He proposed that weight management should be approached in a manner more relatable to the populace, such as reviving group exercises and mass sports events, transforming slogans into daily habits.

This seminar also underscored the development of innovative weight-loss drugs as a focal area of public interest. Qian Lei, Chief R&D Officer of Xinda Biopharmaceutical Group, shared insights into the role of AI in drug development processes, stating that advancements in biotechnology have shifted the focus of innovative weight-loss drug development from traditional appetite suppressants to new drugs targeting metabolic pathways, thus enhancing drug safety and efficacy.

The seminar concluded with the announcement of the "Healthy China • AI + Weight Management Initiative" as a new chapter in building a collaborative ecosystem in the weight management sector. It encourages various organizations and participants to join the "scientific weight loss" ecological co-construction, sharing resources and exchanging technologies on a national level, ultimately benefiting a broader demographic.