Obesity rising among HK children

Obesity among Hong Kong's primary school children is getting worse, new figures tabled in the Legislative Council on Wednesday show.

Lawmaker Frederick Fung Kin-kee said Health Department data revealed the obesity rate among primary school children rose from 19.4 per cent in 2005-2006 to 20.2 per cent in 2006-2007.

“The causes can be attributed to such factors as children's life style and their eating habits. This includes their preference for foods that are high in fat, sugar or salt - generally referred to as ‘junk food',” Mr Fung told Legco.

He said obesity was not only hurting children's physical and psychological development, but increasing their risk of developing chronic diseases. This also placed a financial burden on the community to provide health care.

“In view of this, the authorities in the United Kingdom have - since last year - gradually imposed a ban on the broadcast of junk food advertisements during, or soon before, and after children's television programmes and programmes which are especially popular with children under 16,” he said.

Mr Fung, of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, asked the government if it intended adopting a similar policy in Hong Kong.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok replied that there were no immediate plans to follow the British example.

“At this stage, the government is open-minded about the regulation of food advertisements.” he told the Legco.

“We have to gather more evidence, draw on the practical experiences of other countries and places, and listen to the opinions of experts and the public.” Dr Chow said the best way to tackle the problem was people changing their eating habits.

“Generally speaking, childhood obesity is mainly attributable to two factors: first, unhealthy eating habits, such as high consumption of unhealthy foods - including foods high in fat, sugar, salt or low in nutrient levels - with low consumption of fruits and vegetables, and second, inadequate exercise,” explained Dr Chow.

He said both factors were closely related to the lifestyle.

“To effectively address obesity, we should start changing our living habits. Adopting and consolidating healthy eating habits and performing regular exercise since childhood help prevent various diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer,” he said.

The health secretary said the best way to help children develop healthy habits was through publicity and education.

“As such, the government has been disseminating knowledge of healthy eating and benefits of exercise to school children through various channels,” Dr Chow said.

He said the government was working with the community, schools and parents on the issue. Examples of its efforts included the “EatSmart@school.hk” Campaign and the “Eatsmart@restaurant.hk” Campaign.

SCMP. Apr. 23, 2008.