China boy skips rope in line with likes to lose weight, gets 1.8 million thumbs up
South China Morning Post
by Alice YanFebruary 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A seven-year-old boy from China has become an internet sensation after agreeing to skip rope for every thumb-up his video received, resulting in over 1.8 million likes. The boy, nicknamed Tangdou (meaning "sugar bean"), weighs 45kg and is significantly overweight compared to the average seven-year-old, who should weigh between 19-26kg. His father posted a video on February 9th, humorously challenging him to skip rope in line with the number of likes the video received. The clip quickly went viral, capturing the attention of netizens worldwide.
Tangdou lives with his grandparents in Jiangsu province while his parents operate a small restaurant in Linyi, Shandong province. Initially bemused by his father's unique weight-loss idea, Tangdou agreed to the challenge and began skipping rope, with his progress documented in subsequent videos. The overwhelming response caught him off guard, prompting him to ask for his father's help to manage the massive attention.
The story highlights the growing issue of childhood obesity in China, where modern lifestyles and dietary habits have contributed to rising weight-related health concerns. Tangdou's journey serves as both a humorous and heartfelt reminder of the importance of physical activity and healthy living. The viral nature of the video underscores the global interest in creative approaches to addressing weight issues, particularly among children.
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/22/2026