BEVERLY, Mass. -- Changes to adoption rules in China are causing a stir in Boston, with some people saying the new requirements are discriminatory.

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that the new rules require that applicants be married, off medication and below a certain weight.

The Carella family adopted two Chinese children -- Grace and Andrew. But under the new rules, they might have trouble adopting another Chinese baby.

"It is kind of discriminatory. It is a kind of fear of people who are wonderful parents who may be a little bit overweight or maybe a certain age, you know? Age doesn’t make you a parent," said Bob Carella.

According to new rules, Chinese babies can no longer be adopted by Americans who are obese, older than 50 or single. Adoption experts called the restrictions painful but common in other countries.

"It is a sad thing for our families that they have more restrictions. But the good news is that means there are fewer children that really desperately need homes, and that is a good thing," said Vicki Peterson of Wide Horizons For Children.

Since 1989, Americans adopted more than 48,000 Chinese babies.

"China is one of the countries that has been very flexible about allowing single people to adopt a child. So it is a big loss for many of our single people," Peterson said.

Last year, nearly 8,000 Chinese children were adopted by American families, but experts said that number will likely decline with the new rules.

"Every day that goes by, I thank God for what I have. I am very grateful for these two children. They are wonderful," Carella said.