Obese children in one Chinese school are being helped to get back into shape by special gym lessons - called 'Kung Fu Panda' classes. Around 50 obese pupils at Jianxin Primary School, in China's eastern Zhejiang province, are put through their paces by instructors every day after school to help them lose weight. The Kung Fu Panda classes were set up after a survey showed that 5 per cent of its 858 students were obese, with one 11-year-old pupil weighing in at 180lbs, reports The People's Daily Online. Around 50 obese children from Jianxin Primary School, in eastern China, are being sent to special Kung Fu Panda classes in order to help them lose weight . Teachers set up the lessons after a survey revealed 5 per cent of the school's 800 pupils were obese, including one 11-year-old who weighs 180lbs . While some of the exercises may appear grueling, instructors say they are focused on making fitness fun, and also work with parents to help control the pupils' weights . Despite some grueling-looking exercises appearing in these pictures, the school insists that the classes focus on making fitness fun. The lessons are named after the Dreamworks film of the same name, in which an overweight panda becomes a Kung Fu master. School Principal Yan Xue told reporters from Urban Express Newspaper: 'When a child is obese there are serious negative health consequences. 'The child could also develop a lack of self-confidence as well as the possibility of being socially excluded. 'Diabetes and high blood pressure are also risks therefore the issue of obesity must be tackled at an early stage.' The school says teachers have been asked to keep an eye on their students' weights, and inform parents if they start to pile on the pounds. The school's headmaster said he wanted to tackle the issue of obesity to stop the children developing health problems in later life, and becoming socially isolated . The Kung Fu Panda classes, which inspectors say are aimed at making fitness fun, are named after a Dreamworks film of the same name in which an overweight panda becomes a kung fu master . Teachers at the school have also been told to monitor each child's weight, and will report back to their parents if they start piling on the pounds . Class instructor Wang Tao added: 'Children’s exercise classes are different to adults. We do not want to make the children afraid or hate coming to the lessons. 'We foster a relaxed atmosphere where the children can enjoy themselves so even if they are a bit noisy we won’t stop them. 'After just 3 weeks of Kung Fu Panda classes there have been a number of students who have seen visible differences in their physiques take place, this is also the result of our close cooperation with the families.' He added that since setting the classes up they have become extremely popular, including with the senior girls. One of the fitness instructors said that, since setting up the classes, they have even become popular with children of a healthy weight, especially the older girls . Pupils complete star jumps during a Kung Fu Panda fitness class at a school in eastern China . The school has also enlisted the help of a nutritionist to help the pupils maintain a healthy weight. Principle Yan added: 'This is an important stage of a child’s development and we are giving them the best nutritional advice from a scientific perspective which will help them control their weight but also not affect their physical development. 'We ask parents to list their weekly food they give their children and our nutritionist will give individual advice on their choices.' The classes have been so successful that they are now going to be used as a model for other schools throughout the city. According to the World Health Organisation, obesity in China is a major problem, with rates of the illness reaching 20 per cent in some cities . Obesity rates in China have shot up dramatically in a generation as most of the country was in the grip of a famine just 50 years ago .
Fitness classes set up after survey showed 5 per cent of pupils were obese . Around 50 pupils attend including 11-year-old boy who weighs 12 stone . Instructors say Kung Fu Panda classes are designed to make fitness fun .