For all the dynamism on display in Hong Kong, when it comes to lifestyle issues our city is regarded as one of the laziest in the world. This distinction was reinforced last week by a government survey which rated more than half the adult population 'inactive'.
When combined with evidence that our eating habits are becoming less healthy and the proportion of people who are overweight is on the increase, a disturbing picture emerges. And it is one which is facing most parts of the world.
There are now estimated to be about one billion people globally who are overweight, and 300 million who are obese. The trend towards high-fat diets and lack of exercise has contributed to an alarming rise in related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Children, in particular, are becoming fatter, lazier and - as a result - less healthy. As we report today, some experts are now predicting the current generation of young people could be outlived by their parents. No wonder the World Health Organisation speaks in terms of a global epidemic.
Not so long ago, obesity was regarded as a problem restricted to developed nations, mostly those in the west. This is no longer the case. Half of the world's obese people are now to be found in developing countries, with China and other Asian nations among them.
The problem is often blamed on a move away from traditional Asian diets in favour of fatty western foods. Fast-food chains, which often target their marketing campaigns towards children, have contributed to this process. Then there is the couch potato factor. The survey in Hong Kong last week showed half of the children here regard watching television as their favourite leisure activity, while a quarter ranked computer games top of the list. Urbanisation, fewer people doing manual work and the increasing use of automated transport also play their part.
The world is certainly waking up to the problem. Food companies in the west, particularly the US, are coming under pressure to make their products healthier and to change their marketing strategies. This has sometimes taken the form of class actions against fast-food giants. But companies are also just beginning to see that focusing on healthier food products can boost their corporate image.