Weight requirements for China

At this time China has no weight restriction. The CCAA is considering imposing a weight restriction, but what the cutoff weight will be is still yet to be determined. (The rumor is 300lbs---but it could be more or less IF IT EVEN HAPPENS AT ALL.) Many agencies have had, prior to CCAA consideration of a weight limit, a policy regarding weight restrictions and now many other agencies have followed suit. The stated concern by many of these agancies is that if China changes their policy they will not grandfather people who are already LID. China is not prone to "grandfathering", and that is their right, just as a weight restriction would be their right to impose as well. However, I do not think it is the right of the American Agency to impose a weight limit. Personally I find this to be discrimination and I think American agencies should be fought. If China has no such policy I do not understand why our agencies feel the need to impose this restriction. It should be told to the applicant that this is a possibility and then the applicant can decide whether or not they wish to take that chance. Unfortunately weight discrimination is extremely tolerated by our society. On a personal note, I have been back from China almost 8 months. I weigh 315 lbs. and my daughter is beautiful. I have written the CCAA about me and my daughter and told them how much we love one another. My weight in no way has kept me from being a very active, very loving parent to Lydia.

Chris- I just private messaged you- but wanted to say- I think all agencies should require the SAME things, since China requires the same thing of ALL agencies. I am CLOSE to my DTA, no pictures to them yet, but when I sent in my application- they saw my weight, and said nothing. (My husband & I are both close to your weight) Lissa- you seem to be in the "know" :-) so I was wondering- if someone was to lose 50 pounds (MY GOAL) between LID & referral, do agencies even write in with a change, or would China want to know anything like that? Especially if they did the weight restriction changes. My sister is going to try to help me lose 50 pounds in the next 18 months- but with the application already in, and then I'll have a LID- just wondering if it matters to the agency or CCAA to report a significant weight loss? Also- Lissa, since you stated your weight (I ADMIRE YOU- I have to take VALIUM just to SEE my weight-lol) Did you feel any prejudices towards you by the people in China or the court system? Since the "rumor" is the weight restriction, just curious. Thanks in advance Lissa- and Hang in there CHris!

I'm pretty sure that after you are LID, no updates are really sent unless China requests additional info. I am just DTC, however, so I'll let someone more experienced answer. Best of luck! Christina

Um, yes! Exactly! We're not adopting from China, but we would like to in a few years so I'm hoping they don't impose any weight limits. I am 5'0" and about 240 :eek: . I've been at basically this weight for the last 4 years or so -- I go up and down a little but never have much success. My agency hasn't said a word -- we met with the agency director herself in person and nothing was said, so I'm assuming it's not going to be a big deal. I'd still be well below a 300-pound limit if that was what was imposed, but it still doesn't seem fair. I know plenty of thin people who'd be terrible parents, and plenty of fat people who'd be great parents. I just don't like these arbitrary rules.

I would think that height would also come into play with any weight restrictions. Even though I agree with Lissa, that it is discriminatory to impose restrictions without China doing so, I also think that if China imposes weight restrictions and does not make it retro for those already with a LID, then there would be a lot of other parents that insist on getting their money back from the agency if they choose not to lose the weight. It would cause a big uproar, so I'm sure that's why some agencies are using the 300 lb rule as their own rule of thumb now, just in case.

Lissa- I was wondering- if someone was to lose 50 pounds (MY GOAL) between LID & referral, do agencies even write in with a change, or would China want to know anything like that? Especially if they did the weight restriction changes. My understanding (which may be wrong) is that no one will inform China of anything. You many however do a homestudy update depending upon your agency. Lissa, since you stated your weight Did you feel any prejudices towards you by the people in China or the court system? Since the "rumor" is the weight restriction, just curious. Actually quite the opposite. The very overweight are considered by the older generation to be good luck. In Guilin people smiled and approached me big time as they "wanted my luck". One very old woman actually ran me down and pointed to her single tooth in her mouth and then she hugged me and ran off. One of the ladies in our travel group who was raised in China until she was 9 told me that the superstition was that people with only one tooth were good luck as well...so she was spreading her luck to me when she hugged me. The only person who ever made me feel uncomfortable about my weight during the whole trip was Lydia...and only cause she made me hold her all the time. (She was Killin' my back!! ;) ) Karen as for the agencies...yeah, I see their point, but I also know I'veexperienced mucho discrimination as a larger person in this country and while some of these agencies are just recently imposing this new weight restriction, others have been doing it for years for no good reason other than they can.

Anyone want to PM with the names of the agencies that are enforcing weight restrictions? DH and I are below 300 lbs, but this all makes me nervous! I appreciate your help!

For what it is worth, many agencies are saying CCAA will very soon put out an announcement on some new requirements, and it is possible weight will be one, as well as serious medical conditions, etc. I would watch for that. There is currently no CCAA rule per se, but they do look at the overall health of both parents. CCAA can do whatever it likes as far as grandfathering people in. I would certainly hope they would do that. Honestly, I dont think weight has anything to do with ability to parent. They need to look at the big picture.

I am overweight and thankfully that was not an issue when we adopted Olivia in 1/05. That said we still are praying to come up with the finances to go back so that will be an issue we may face. My experience in China was different than Lissa's. I did get many stares and pointed at. It was very difficult for me as I don't have a thick skin for that although if i had known that I would have prepared myself. I can't say I had any problems in Hong Kong or Guangzhou however Nanchang was bad. I did virtually no sightseeing in part because I really didn't need that sort of treatment. I should say that I did encounter very nice people in the hotel there and in the grocery stores in addition to a few mother's who I fussed over their children. I was so sick with bronchiitis that the thought of not sightseeing really didn't bother me though. In addition I was so focused on bonding with Olivia that again sightseeing was far from a priority. This was my take on China. I would hate anyone to feel bad that they might have to endure this however I wish I would have known so I could have been prepared.

Wow, Tara, I'm reallysorry you had that experience in Nanchang. I was in Nanning, Guilin and Guangzhou and NEVER felt stared at. People wanted to see Lydia. People were very curious about her and wanted to know if I was married to a Chinese man (if Russell was away) or if Russell was married to a Chinese woman (if I was away)--but never did anyone stare, point or comment about me. It must be a regional difference I guess.

Regarding the weight issue: my husband and I were both overweight when we went to China in '02. Plus I have high blood pressure, controlled with medication and he has diabetes, controlled with medication (no insulin). We had no troubles then. Yes, we were stared at, but mainly in airports. It could have been due to our size or the fact that I was a very fair-skinned, light-haired, freckled American with a Chinese baby. Our agency prepared all their prospective travelers about being stared at and she didn't say it would be because of weight. I don't like being stared at and it made me uncomfortable but it seemed like once the Chinese folks saw how happy and contented Whitley was and heard her when we made her laugh...they seemed to accept it all and would smile and come up and pat her on the head. My husband, who is a pastor and has never met a stranger, would go up to someone who was staring and offer his hand and try to talk to them. They loved that! It became quite comical. My husband is from the mountains of SW Virginia and has a very thick mountain dialect. So to hear him talk to someone who was speaking Chinese was a hoot! To anyone concerned about the possible weight issue...trust your agency. If they are accredited and have a good record in dealing with CHinese adoptions, then they will notify you of changes or possible problems. Until then, keep going with your paperchasing and if you're trying to lose weight...good luck. It ain't easy!Sharondh - Daviddd - Whitley Rose Hui; 9/02 - Changsha

Reading your stories brought tears to my eyes! I'm a skinny-mini, so I can't relate directly to your experiences, but my sister and best friend are overweight and, although I would love for them to lose weight for health reasons, they are both AMAZING moms and it has nothing to do with the size of their jeans. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you are all extremely brave to endure the daily prejudices put upon you. Whether it be the media, people in public in the US or abroad, or simply stupidity on the part of your agency, I think it's absolutely ridiculous. You would think we, as a society, would be past that attitude by now?! IMHO, if you can show that your weight is not affecting your health in a manner that will somehow diminish your ability to parent adequetely, there should be no policy. If a 6'5" person weighs 300 pounds, how is that different proportionatly than a 5'1" person weighing 200? I wish you all the best and hope that the new China rules work in your favor. Lissa, I love your "good luck" story. I'm hoping I'm not bad luck! I know I'll stick out anyway... red hair, fair skin, tall... carrying a chinese baby...what a hoot! Hang in there ladies! :)

I do not want in any way to be critical, and I'm trying to word this carefully. I think a weight restriction, if there ever is one, should be based on height and health, not a nice round number like 300 lbs, though I imagine that would be hard to clarify. I know that there are people who are fabulous parents and in general good health that happen to be carrying around some extra weight. And there are plenty of slender, unhealthy, lousy parents as well - we can't really generalize a person based on their weight. THAT BEING SAID, we know that studies show that too much weight can be the factor in increasing many of the deadly and debilitating diseases that are out there, and we owe it to ourselves and all our children to do what we can to eat healthy, exercise, yada yada, in the hopes that we will live long, fruitful lives, and that we'll help them do the same. I'm not in perfect shape, nor do I eat only what I should, so I'm not preaching. I do not mean to offend anyone - I have too much respect for the wonderful people who open their hearts on this web site. But I have watched my sister struggle with her weight for years, and have seen her discomfort in traveling. She has just started Weight Watchers and is already seeing the health and comfort benefits of losing just 10 lbs, even though she still has another 90 to go. I do think that if you know you should lose weight (FOR HEALTH'S SAKE), this is a perfect opportunity to have a little extra motivation. If you want to lose weight, you have a whole group of people who are here to support you!

Wow, hhousl, that was really well said. I know I could stand to lose a few, and I think your post hit the nail on the head. It is good for all of us hoping to lose weight to keep on trying, and know that our ability to parent doesnt completely hinge on our weight, but certainly can be impacted by it sometimes.

I have been keeping pretty silent on this weight issue. As a dietitian I see many people with weight problems that have lead to other medical problems. I have so much to say on this topic that I may ramble in parts, so please bear with me. First of all I want to say how much I LOVE this group! You have been so helpful and I admire and respect all if you. I cant thank you enough for answering my sometimes silly questions. So, please do not take any of what I am saying as criticism. I come at this issue from a slightly different view of many in my profession. I believe that you can be over weight and healthy. ғFit and Fat to steal the title of one of my favorite books on triathlon training. I am also a big fan of the research coming from Baylor University that states that a fit person who is overweight is HEALTHIER then a sedentary person who is within their ԓideal body weight. Frankly I think ԓideal body weight is a terrible misnomer, and I think that good research is going to eventually back this up. Also, I am sickened by the use of BMI. This is to be used as ONE of several tools to assess a persons ԓproper wt and health risks. If SomeoneԒs BMI is over 25 (over weight) then we must look and their body fat percentage and their waist circumference. An elite athlete or body builder will not have a BMI within normalӔ range, but will have very low body fat %. And will have low resting heart rate and blood pressure, (ie good cardiac heath). Just last year there was a story in the news that was saying Shaquille ONeil was morbidly obese because his BMI was over 30. Puleeze!!!! The man is 100ft tall and is SOLID! While there are those with BMI within the normal range that fat % are dangerously high. (I call them Fat Bananas.) These people need to lower the fat in their diet and EXCERISE. Steph (very cute puppy by the way) There really isnҒt much difference when you look at the BMI of someone who is 6ft 5in and 300# and someone 5ft 1in and 200#. (35 and 37). In my experience there is more likelyhood that the 5ft 1in person is over wt and over fat, while the 6ft 5 person is just considered over weight. If you have a BIM that is >25 if you are a man with a waist >40 and a woman with a waist > 35 then you have more abdominal fat. This puts you at higher risk for cardiac disease. This is THE NUMBER ONE KILLER in America for both Men and Women (Go red for women) However, we do know that people who are over weight have a higher chance of developing other long term illnesses. Most of these illnesses shorten our life expectancies and shorten our span of independence. And most of us that are over weight DO NOT EXCERISE. Yes, I am considered over weight by the BMI standard, but not by body fat. I am a big girl and will always be. I run 6 miles, swim 4000 yards and lift weights 2X per week (Yeah YMCA). I am Fit and Fat! (Oh and I have to mention my 3 favorite foods are Ice Cream, Wine and potato chips!) But the best thing is that with the size that I am I qualify to compete in the Athena division in the races that I do :) As a child who lost her Father WAY TOO SOON. (He was only 50 and I was only 17) I would implore any of you who are worried about being rejectedӔ from the CCAA or an adoption agency to start to become fit. Dont focus on the weight or the food, focus on the exercise. Start out SLOW. I love water classes, keeps the pressure off the knees. If you are fortunate to have a YMCA near you, they usually have lots of great classes. But please do check with your physician before you begin any exercise program (and I know you have all had full physicals lately, but better to check in before you start). Also, please feel free to PM me with any personal questions.