[China Tech] VR used to fight weight loss and mental disorders in Shanghai

[China Tech] is a column dedicated to the innovations reshaping China – and, inevitably, the world. From cutting-edge AI labs and next-gen robotics to home-grown apps that redefine daily life, we explore the breakthroughs that emerge from the country's relentless drive for technological dominance. Some are game-changers, others cautionary tales, but all offer a glimpse into the future as it's being built, at breakneck speed, in China.

VR helps adolescents to reduce weight

Doctors from Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital collaborated with computer professionals and sports specialists to examine the impact of virtual reality on weight management and health awareness among minors.

Researchers developed a system called Real-World Exercise and VR-Based Exercise Research in Education, which is used to provide interactive sports instruction. This system also explores the potential effects of VR technology on minors' physical quality, mental health and athletic performance.

Nature Medicine published findings on an adaptive AI-based virtual reality sports system designed for overweight teenagers.

Adolescent obesity has become a significant global health concern. Between 1990 and 2022, the number of obese children aged 5 to 19 tripled worldwide.

Assisting young people in losing weight through scientific methods and fostering healthy sports habits has emerged as a critical issue in public health. Thus, it is essential to develop a safe, customized and compassionate sports intervention strategy.

Dr Li Huating, from Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, collaborated with experts from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai University of Sport and Shanghai Tech University to develop the world's first AI-based VR system. This system gathers data from professional table tennis and football coaches and enables interaction between the intelligent coaching agent and adolescent users, facilitating continuous development and policy adjustments for personalized sports interventions.

In a study involving 227 overweight or obese children, those who engaged in VR-guided table tennis or football training showed improved sports abilities, mental health and willingness to participate in sports compared to those who received traditional instruction.

Under the title "Virtual Reality Sports to Tackle Pediatric Obesity," the editors of Nature Medicine highlighted the significant implications of this research. Virtual reality sports may be able to offer a novel, effective and safe approach to enhance the health of overweight or obese teenagers.

VR makes mental treatment more fun and effective

At Ruijin Hospital, specialists provide a unique treatment for anxiety, sadness and bipolar illness. It has created the country's first VR solution that addresses the three mental health disorders. Patients can receive personalized digital therapy.

"It's a registered medical device. Patients can experience six to eight immersive scenarios while wearing the VR equipment, like sports, 360-degree natural landscape, artist's creations, social exchange and meditation," said Dr Zhang Jingjing from the clinical psychology department.

"Doctors can receive real-time data to learn about their patients' emotional fluctuations and alter their treatment. The treatment is no longer a painful and tedious procedure, but rather a game."

The study found that the VR-based treatment produces very positive results. The treatment relieved symptoms of insomnia by 22.5 percent, sadness by 32.3 percent, stress by 14.5 percent and anxiety by 12.2 percent.

The prevalence of mental disorders is increasing both in China and around the world. The global incidence of depression is 3.8 percent, while in China it is 3.4 percent. This means that there are 350 million sufferers worldwide, with 95 million of them in China. The incidence is increasing by 3-5 percent.

The treatment is long, and many patients struggle with relapse frequently. The treatment periods are typically calculated by year.

"So digital system can be a very promising tool in the field," Zhang said.