A education blogger says that, “I’ve been reading a matchmaking blogger lately, who’s been complaining that she’s trying to set up high-end singles nights.
Are larger babies considered a problem? Who is investigating the ob/gyns? I've seen a lot of content here about strict diet culture and can imagine the social pressures that lead to that, but are they actually having increases in obesity rate or something too?
There is actually increased obesity rates compared to a generation ago, but obesity still isn't a societal issue by far. It is true though that you do need to watch how much weight you gain during pregnancy. A lot of people's mindsets in China (especially your parents' generation) are still constantly worried about expecting mommies being malnutritioned, so they cram way, way too much food and supplements down your throat. When you're gaining like 70 pounds throughout a pregnancy, that's actually legit not good for the baby and can make for a more difficult delivery.
If the baby is big because both sides of your family are full of super tall people, though, then it's perfectly normal and fine.
The fact that a doctor would say "Isn't the purpose of life health and a slim body?" blows my mind. Is slimness really that culturally enshrined or was the doctor joking?
I don't think he was joking, no. Men care about slimness (or even fitness a lot less, I think, on average), but when it comes to women in China, slimness really is very much enshrined. Celebrities like Liu Yifei and Yang Zi get made fun of A LOT for being fat, and they are exactly as thin as movie actresses tend to be.
All of the posts suggesting that women should be 40-something kilos? Those aren't joking either.
Are larger babies considered a problem? Who is investigating the ob/gyns? I've seen a lot of content here about strict diet culture and can imagine the social pressures that lead to that, but are they actually having increases in obesity rate or something too?
There is actually increased obesity rates compared to a generation ago, but obesity still isn't a societal issue by far. It is true though that you do need to watch how much weight you gain during pregnancy. A lot of people's mindsets in China (especially your parents' generation) are still constantly worried about expecting mommies being malnutritioned, so they cram way, way too much food and supplements down your throat. When you're gaining like 70 pounds throughout a pregnancy, that's actually legit not good for the baby and can make for a more difficult delivery.
If the baby is big because both sides of your family are full of super tall people, though, then it's perfectly normal and fine.
The fact that a doctor would say "Isn't the purpose of life health and a slim body?" blows my mind. Is slimness really that culturally enshrined or was the doctor joking?
I don't think he was joking, no. Men care about slimness (or even fitness a lot less, I think, on average), but when it comes to women in China, slimness really is very much enshrined. Celebrities like Liu Yifei and Yang Zi get made fun of A LOT for being fat, and they are exactly as thin as movie actresses tend to be.
All of the posts suggesting that women should be 40-something kilos? Those aren't joking either.