Hectic lifestyles, desk-bound jobs and eating out are taking a heavy toll on Hong Kong. Surveys show an increasing incidence of people being overweight or obese, which, in turn, is causing rising rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Spreading girths are proof that we need to eat better and get more exercise. Government campaigns for us to make healthier choices at restaurants and for school lunch boxes to contain more fruit and vegetables and less salt and fat are sending out the right message.
Yet most of us are not taking the matter seriously. The number of people who are overweight or obese has doubled in the past 10 years.
This is not to say we are not listening. The problem is what to do when working hours are long and there is so little time to cook and exercise? Eating out for convenience is usually the answer.
But a Chinese University study has given food for thought: it reveals that significant culprits in the battle of the bulge are the breakfasts, set lunches and sauteed and fried foods served in restaurants. Weight can be lost through eating breakfast at home and choosing wisely when dining out.
With this in mind, restaurants should serve smaller portions and offer choices that are good for us. The Department of Health can assist through working with the catering sector to provide menu options that contain less oil, salt and fat and more vegetable dishes.