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The Department of Health is taking the lead to tackle the problem of obesity as over 20% of the Hong Kong population aged 15 or above have been found to be obese.
The Population Health Survey, which covered more than 7,000 people aged 15 or above, was commissioned by the department in 2003/04. It found that 22.3% of the male interviewees and 20% of the female interviewees were obese.
Releasing the findings of the survey today (September 15), Senior Medical Officer of the department's Central Health and Education Unit (CHEU), Dr Ho Mei-lin, said obesity was a condition in which the body stored an excessive amount of fat to such an extent that health could be adversely affected.
"Obesity does not only lead to an array of serious health risks including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and certain kinds of cancer, but also puts a significant social and economic burden on the community," Dr Ho said.
The survey also showed another 20.1% of the male interviewees and 15.9% of the female interviewees were overweight.
Dr Ho said people are considered overweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) reaches 23 or above, and people with a BMI of 25 or above are considered obese. The BMI can be calculated using the formula below:
Body weight (kg)
__________________
Body Height (m)²
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office recommends a lower BMI cut-off point for defining obesity in the Asian population to better identify the high risk group.
Dr Ho said that excessive body weight and obesity were commonly found among people aged 45-54 and 55-64.
Findings of the survey were contained in a report compiled by the CHEU, "Tackling Obesity: Its Causes, the Plight and Preventive Actions".
"With the compilation of this report, we hope to arouse public awareness of the problem of obesity and to encourage health promotion organisations and community groups to adopt evidence-based initiatives in the management of obesity and excessive weight," Dr Ho said.
"The report can also facilitate planning and development of strategies for tackling obesity by adopting a healthy lifestyle which is necessary and essential to address the problem of obesity.
"The Department of Health is committed to taking the lead and working closely with other government departments, non-governmental organisations, health professionals, academic institutions and interested parties to tackle obesity through a variety of health education and promotion programmes within the community," she said.
Some of these programmes including the "2 Plus 3" Campaign to promote fruit and vegetables in daily meals, the Stair Climbing Campaign to promote physical exercise, the Exercise Prescription Project and the promulgation of a Food Pyramid tailor-made for the local population have already been put in place.
A pilot study to promote fruit and vegetables among primary school students is also in progress.
Details of the report can be obtained at the CHEU website: (http://www.cheu.gov.hk/files/professional/Obesity_EN.pdf) and at the Centre for Health Protection website (http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/grp-pmpdb-obesity_en.pdf).
Ends/Thursday, September 15, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:22
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