Survey on schools finds over half of Hong Kong students have unhealthy lifestyles

Over half of Hong Kong students do not exercise regularly or eat fresh fruit and vegetables daily, a recent survey has found.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion conducted a school-based needs assessment survey at four primary and two secondary schools in Tai Po and Sha Tin recently.

A similar survey conducted in 1999 found more than half of the students did not exercise for more than 30 minutes each week.

The centre's director, Professor Albert Lee, said it was 'an unhealthy phenomenon'. He said: 'With improvements in the quality of life, many children in Asia have become overweight. The lack of exercise and the consumption of fatty foods only worsen the problem.'

To highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy balanced diet and doing regular exercise, a keep fit camp for young people aged from nine to 12 will be organised at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung this summer.

Professor Lee said a healthy lifestyle should start in childhood and the camp would provide children with health education, which would lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Dr Tsang Kwong-ka, deputy director of the centre, said: 'It's hard to change an adult's lifestyle because they have being doing it for years.'