EditorialAn ounce of obesity prevention is worth a kilo of cure for Hong Kong

Parents cherish educational achievement, but physical activity and a healthy lifestyle complement lifelong learning in a fast-changing world

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Parents and children at a playground in Sham Shui Po on February 25. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 6:45am, 28 Mar 2026

There is a growing need to address the lack of regular exercise among Hong Kong students. Turning back the clock to more physically active childhoods is not an option. Without action at home and school to maintain physical activity amid a digital lifestyle, today’s schoolchildren face a greater risk – and an earlier onset – of ill health.

A government report for the 2024-25 school year says about 94 per cent of students do not get enough moderate to vigorous exercise, recommended for at least an hour daily, and 17.5 per cent are overweight, up 0.4 percentage points on the previous year. It also flagged low fruit and vegetable intake, poor vision health and excessive recreational screen time among students. The findings were based on surveys by the Department of Health, covering about 428,000 primary and secondary pupils. Many parents of these children had pre-smartphone childhoods that included more physical activity.

“Being overweight during childhood and adolescence adversely affects health and is associated with … diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers,” said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, a community medicine consultant for the department.

Medicine can offer cures, but prevention is better.

A citywide government plan on weight management launched this month can be a starting point in addressing the problem among schoolchildren. The plan aims to combat obesity by fostering a social environment that supports weight management and health services. Initiatives include promoting healthy lifestyles in schools and making weighing scales more readily available. New sports facilities, including cycle tracks and jogging trails, will be introduced and more fitness equipment installed on housing estates.

It is a much-needed development. Health and fitness remain important in an age of artificial intelligence and robotics. There is room for more lifestyle education. The authorities rightly call on parents and schools to tackle the fitness crisis together. Parents might cherish educational achievement, but physical activity and a healthy lifestyle complement lifelong learning in a fast-changing world.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Parents cherish educational achievement, but physical activity and a healthy lifestyle complement lifelong learning in a fast-changing world

Parents cherish educational achievement, but physical activity and a healthy lifestyle complement lifelong learning in a fast-changing world