During the last survey, which took place around five years ago, about 39 per cent of Hong Kong adults were either overweight or obese. Now, this latest survey has shown that more than half of adults who are over the age of 40 are putting their wellbeing at risk by carrying around excess weight.
This study also showed that the wellness of Hong Kong adults deteriorated as they got older, with weight increasing as their age advanced. Figures showed that 13.5 per cent of infants were overweight, 26.9 per cent of children, 14 per cent of adolescents, 38 per cent of young adults, 56.9 per cent of middle-aged adults and a whopping 61.5 per cent of the elderly.
The World Health Organisation has defined weight standards for Asians, with those who have a body mass index (BMI) of 23 and over being classed as overweight, and those with a BMI of 25 and over being classed as obese. BMI relates to the amount of fat that you have on your body, and is calculated using height in relation to weight.
Central waist measurements were also taken, and these had the same pattern, as they tended to increase with age. Excess weight was linked to lack of exercise, as participation in any kind of physical activity or sport was found to decrease with age, as weight increased.
During the study, those measured were asked to give their reasons for not taking part in physical activity, despite the health benefits it offers. Amongst the reasons given, participants stated that they didn’t have any time, the weather was poor, tiredness, or even that they just weren’t interested. Some respondents even stated that they were too lazy to do any exercise!