Barney's ill-fated diet

Continuing the soap brand's efforts to promote women's self-image, the Dove Self-Esteem Fund has been launched to contribute to the Hong Kong Eating Disorders Association and organise body-consciousness workshops in schools. Supporting the cause at the ceremony was local designer Barney Cheng Siu-leung (right), who admitted to his own unhealthy self-image and near-fatal attempt to lose weight.

'One of my tai-tai clients told me I was getting too fat and it's not good for my image, so she gave me some diet pills she bought in the mainland,' Cheng recalled. 'I took them and in a few weeks I lost about 20 pounds. But the side effects were horrible. I was getting moody and frustrated, I had a faster heartbeat and was sweating all the time. When I saw the client again, I told her the pills were working, and she screamed 'Oh no, you're still taking those pills! They killed several people in Japan and China and are now banned!' Now, I say it really doesn't matter if I'm a little overweight.'