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Wellness

Wellness
Latest news and features on wellness, including diet, mental health trends, exercise, fitness, medicine and diseases.
New data suggests that many patients maintain weight loss after stopping GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which runs counter to previous findings cautioning that many patients will regain lost weight if treatment is interrupted. Photo: Shutterstock
Medicine

Weight rebound after stopping Ozempic, Wegovy? Not necessarily, new data says

New research suggests that many people who stop using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic maintain their weight loss, countering previous studies.

Social media

Guilty of doomscrolling? Meet the YouTube stars telling you to log off

Fashion

How next-gen brands are blending luxury with sportswear

Veganism and vegetarianism

He had cancer, she had a rare disorder. How two 85-year-olds came out on top

Bob and Fran German share how going vegan changed their lives and helps them keep fit, healthy, full of energy – and sniffle-free.

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Octogenarian YouTubers Bob and Fran German practise qigong in a video. The vegan couple switched to a whole food, plant-based diet years ago because their “lives depended on it”, and now say they feel as fit as ever. Photo: YouTube/AskBobnFran
Japan

Long and short of it: why Okinawa lost crown as Japan’s island of longevity

Okinawan men fell from first to 43rd while women slipped to 16th in the last life expectancy survey, a slide that is expected to continue.

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Social media

‘Going analogue in 2026’: how letter writing is making a comeback

Letter writing and writing instruments are seeing a surge in interest as people look for space to reflect and build meaningful connections.

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How to age well

The hidden benefits of common vaccines, including reduced dementia, heart risks

Flu, RSV, shingles, Covid and other vaccines have ‘off-target’ benefits for older adults, making them ‘key tools’ for healthy ageing.

Various studies around the world have linked jabs for influenza, shingles, RSV and more to a lowered risk of diseases associated with ageing, prompting further research into what doctors call “off-target” benefits. Photo: Shutterstock
Music

‘First Asian woman in hip hop’ went from misfit to managing Wu-Tang members

Sophia Chang moved to New York at 21 and worked with some of the 1990s’ biggest rappers. Now 60, the Korean-Canadian’s aim is to stay strong.

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | This year, Hong Kong must resolve to rewrite the script for retirement

Any long-term solution requires a re-imagination of retirement – beyond the outdated view of retirees as passive welfare recipients.

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How to age well

She lost 13kg in 4 months. Now she’s on a mission to help others get fit

After transforming her own health, Karen Chau started Fit2Give, a Hong Kong charity offering free training to church ministers and NGO staff.

Karen Chau, who is from Taiwan but has called Hong Kong home for the last decade, is pictured at a gym in the city’s Tin Hau neighbourhood. After losing 13kg in four months, she set up her charity Fit2Give to help church ministers and NGO workers on their fitness journey. Photo: Jonathan Wong
How to age well

The huge benefits of quitting alcohol, from weight loss to slowing ageing

Ex-drinkers and sobriety experts explain how life is better and healthier without drinking as many attempt the same during Dry January.

Jodi Clark, seen in January 2023 and this month, who now runs online groups, challenges and retreats for women, has lost 38kg (84lb) since she stopped drinking more than 3 years ago. Photo: Jodi Clark
Science

We rewrite our memories every time we recall a moment. How that can help us

Every time we recall something, it sets off actions that change us and alter our memories – something that could have therapeutic benefits.

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China society

Outside In | We are speeding towards a demography of loneliness

The swarming sociability of family life is fading as one-person households and lonely deaths rise. Coping with loneliness is now a life skill.

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What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, January 16-18

Loosen up for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, shop discounted home goods, enjoy special-edition buns and more this weekend.

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Women-focused running club She Runs Collective will host a session on January 17 to help runners prepare for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. There is also plenty on this weekend for non-runners, from a printing exhibition to a special-edition barbecue bun set at some branches of Tim Ho Wan.
Food and Drinks

Hong Kong’s bar scene was extra volatile last year – what’s in store for 2026?

From Bar Leone, to Quinary and Draft Land, the city’s bar scene is increasingly oriented towards simplicity, accessibility and community.

How are Hong Kong’s bars adapting to changing trends in drinking and socialising in 2026? Photo: Jonathan Wong
Tourism

What’s fuelling South Korea’s running boom? A look at the fitness obsession

From office workers to ultra-marathoners, South Korea’s running boom is reshaping streets, travel and retail as millions hit the pavement.

How to cope

Singaporean pro boxer uses skills from the ring to dominate life’s other fights

Efasha Kamarudin credits boxing for helping her build self-confidence, tackle body-size hang-ups and bounce back from new motherhood blues.

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How to age well

At 52, she is stronger than ever. How strength training helps women in midlife

Strength training after 50 helps women counter bone loss post-menopause, build muscle and maintain a healthy weight.

Sarah Baldassaro (left) demonstrates a strength-training regimen with her trainer, Hilary Granat, in Washington. Medical experts say strength training keeps bones and muscles healthy after menopause, when oestrogen loss speeds up a reduction in bone density and contributes to the gradual loss of muscle mass. Photo: AP
Health & Fitness

5 power-ups for 2026 to start your 2026 wellness journey right

Check out apparel and footwear from the likes of Sporty & Rich and American Vintage, then sign up for Apple Fitness+ to stay focused on your goals.

How to age well

How mobility exercises can help you stay active and healthy as you age

Mobility exercises strengthen your muscles, increase your range of motion, and help you stay healthy in body and mind as you get older.

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Dementia

Singaporean dementia study links Alzheimer’s to clogged ‘brain drains’

Blocked glymphatic channels, part of the brain’s waste-cleaning network, could be an early Alzheimer’s marker, Singaporean researchers find.

An elderly Asian woman with dementia is comforted by her daughter. A study of nearly 1,000 Singaporeans found that those showing early signs of Alzheimer’s tended to have “enlarged perivascular spaces”, or blocked glymphatic channels, the pathways through which cerebrospinal fluid washes away toxins from the brain. Photo: Shutterstock
Health & Fitness

How celebrity wellness brands are reshaping self-care

From wellness OG Gwyneth Paltrow, to newer entrepreneurs like Halle Berry, celebrities have shifted their focus from beauty to health.

Lemme, founded by Kourtney Kardashian, offers nutritional gummies and even lollipops. Photo: Handout
Veganism and vegetarianism

This Chinese-Vietnamese plant-based influencer makes even haters love tofu

Wendy the Food Scientist is on a mission to make plant-based eating simple, healthy and satisfying – no ultra-processed ‘fake meat’ required.

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong’s ageing population needs purpose, not just medical care

Too many among the city’s ageing population struggle on their own due to stigmas around mental health and a lack of targeted policies.

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Mental health

Explainer | It’s not you, it’s the weather: all about seasonal affective disorder

Beat the winter blues – and even summer SAD – with expert tips on light therapy, diet and mindfulness for better seasonal mental health.

A man sits outside on a cold day in Hong Kong. SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is triggered by extreme weather changes and less daylight in winter, making us feel, well, sad. Photo: Dickson Lee
Medicine

Why your gut microbiome is so important for health and how to protect it

Bacteria in the gut perform important jobs that help prevent disease, but how to best protect and improve yours? An expert weighs in.

The gut microbiome performs all manner of important jobs, including breaking down fibre and starches, synthesising vitamins and amino acids such as vitamins B and K, and producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that help prevent disease. Photo: Shutterstock
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | How ancient Chinese dental practices were often similar to those used today

From gargling with medicinal concoctions to chewing sticks, people in China addressed dental health with considerable ingenuity.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Housing anxiety impeding Hong Kong fire trauma recovery: mental health experts

Many Wang Fuk Court residents displaced by the deadly inferno are now living in hotels, youth hostels or transitional housing.

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