https://www.scmp.com/rss/330052/feed Reviews, tips and advice on how to stay on track to be the fittest, healthiest you. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kee Foong Kee Foong On a windswept afternoon on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, I’m standing with arms outstretched on a stone platform beside the sea. A woman circles slowly, swirling a smoking chalice of fragrant copal resin as waves crash onto the shore just feet away from me. Incantations are offered to the four elements of air, water, earth and fire as we turn to face their cardinal directions. A drum beats. A conch shell sounds. Prayers are chanted to Father Sky, Mother Earth and the world in between. This... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349461/wellness-retreats-mexicos-yucatan-peninsula-connect-cultural-traditions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349461/wellness-retreats-mexicos-yucatan-peninsula-connect-cultural-traditions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang In an attempt to mimic cervical traction therapy used in hospitals, a new trend known as the “neck-hanging exercise” has emerged among young Chinese people. The exercise involves people hanging by their head from trees to relieve cervical spondylosis. According to the 2024 China Cervical Spine Health White Paper, more than 200 million people in China suffer from cervical spine disorders, with over 40 per cent of patients under the age of 30. The new hanging trend has been gaining traction... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348773/doctors-warn-spinal-cord-damage-neck-hanging-exercise-trends-among-china-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3348773/doctors-warn-spinal-cord-damage-neck-hanging-exercise-trends-among-china-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Bangladesh has launched an emergency ⁠vaccination campaign ⁠targeting more than a ⁠million children as a fast-spreading measles outbreak sweeps across the country. Health ministry figures show there have been 17 confirmed deaths from measles so far, with 113 suspected ‌deaths and more than 7,500 suspected infections nationwide. The campaign, led by the health ministry with support from Unicef, the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, began in 18 high-risk districts,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349178/bangladesh-aims-vaccinate-over-1-million-children-fatal-measles-outbreak-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3349178/bangladesh-aims-vaccinate-over-1-million-children-fatal-measles-outbreak-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:27:02 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan While many people like to eat avocados in guacamole, on toast or in salads, California rolls or smoothies, chef Ben Kiely has other ideas about how to use the fruit, known as “green gold” or “alligator pear”, which comes originally from Mexico and South America. Kiely, the head instructor at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA) in Vancouver, says avocados are great in desserts like ice creams and chocolate mousse. “There’s recipes, especially now with plant-based being so common [with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3348743/how-chefs-are-reimagining-avocado-beyond-guacamole-vancouver-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3348743/how-chefs-are-reimagining-avocado-beyond-guacamole-vancouver-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:00:17 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse In a corner of suburban Singapore, Betty Boon vaults a guardrail, crawls underneath a slide, executes forward shoulder rolls and scales a steep slope, finishing the course to applause. “Good job!” the 69-year-old’s coach cheers. This is “geriatric parkour”, where around 20 retirees learn to tackle a series of relatively demanding exercises, building their agility and enjoying a sense of camaraderie. Boon, an upbeat grandmother, says learning parkour has aided her confidence and independence as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348892/why-singaporeans-aged-60-plus-are-learning-parkour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348892/why-singaporeans-aged-60-plus-are-learning-parkour?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson The Easter break offers a chance of escape for many Hongkongers, but that holiday joy often comes with a hidden tax: jet lag. Jet lag is the cognitive and physical misalignment that your brain and body experience when arriving in a new time zone. Known more formally as desynchronosis, it is more than a lack of sleep – it is a state of biological confusion. Los Angeles Times journalist Horace Sutton may have been the first person to use the term “jet lag”, in a piece he wrote in 1966. “If you’re... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348783/how-frequent-fliers-are-beating-jet-lag-using-apps-timeshifter-and-stopjetlag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348783/how-frequent-fliers-are-beating-jet-lag-using-apps-timeshifter-and-stopjetlag?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hong Kong is moving away from the solitary pursuit of physical perfection towards a more social approach to health, according to one industry veteran, who believes the “looking good” era is being replaced by a need to “feel good”. With more than a decade of industry experience, Charlz Ng Cheuk-ho, the former co-owner of House of Fitness gym, has spent much of his career building the city’s wellness infrastructure. As the former managing director of Hybrid Group, he helped bring the Spartan Race... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3348993/feel-good-factor-now-driving-fitness-trends-looking-good-era-fading-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3348993/feel-good-factor-now-driving-fitness-trends-looking-good-era-fading-away?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:00:17 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani Bill Maeda, who has 2.2 million followers on Instagram and more than 450,000 subscribers on YouTube, is not your conventional fitness trainer. He eats McDonald’s. He does not count reps. And he sometimes has clients exercise for just 10 minutes a day. While that approach might sound counterintuitive in an industry often built on intensity, for Maeda, 57, fitness has never been about punishment or perfection. It is about something far simpler: finding a way to move that people can actually... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348756/colon-cancer-survivor-who-became-viral-fitness-trainer-isnt-afraid-eating-mcdonalds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348756/colon-cancer-survivor-who-became-viral-fitness-trainer-isnt-afraid-eating-mcdonalds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Carolina Malis Carolina Malis There’s a specific shade of green that now lives in the skincare aisle, the kind that promises to calm, repair and reset your complexion in a single swipe. Add a few reassuring words like microbiome-friendly, barrier-supporting or soothing, and suddenly everything from your cleanser to your lip balm is positioned as emotional support skincare. And it makes sense. Most of us feel a little frazzled, so the idea that our skin might also need calming down is oddly comforting. But the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3348379/secret-calm-epidermis-might-be-soothing-anti-inflammatory-skincare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3348379/secret-calm-epidermis-might-be-soothing-anti-inflammatory-skincare?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:00:07 +0000 dpa dpa January usually triggers a renewed sense of enthusiasm for getting fit, but as the months roll on and spring comes into fruition, life’s busyness often gets in the way. However, new research suggests we do not need to commit to a strict gym schedule: short bursts of vigorous exercise – such as taking the stairs or running for the bus – can also help us keep fit and healthy. The study, by researchers in China, included 96,408 people taking part in the UK Biobank study. It compared the data with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348670/how-5-10-minute-exercise-snacking-sessions-can-get-you-fit-and-lower-disease-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348670/how-5-10-minute-exercise-snacking-sessions-can-get-you-fit-and-lower-disease-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Some people run for endorphins, others to lose weight. Now, add making and enjoying your own artisanal butter to the list of things you could benefit from after running a good few kilometres. Confused? Recently, social media has been churning with excitement over the age-old technique of butter-making, with a sporty twist. People have been storing double-bagged portions of double cream in their running vests, and somewhere between warming up and struggling through their last hundred metres, they... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3348604/why-making-butter-while-you-run-has-got-social-media-churning-excitement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There is a growing need to address the lack of regular exercise among Hong Kong students. Turning back the clock to more physically active childhoods is not an option. Without action at home and school to maintain physical activity amid a digital lifestyle, today’s schoolchildren face a greater risk – and an earlier onset – of ill health. A government report for the 2024-25 school year says about 94 per cent of students do not get enough moderate to vigorous exercise, recommended for at least an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The government’s new Action Plan on Weight Management aims to build a “healthier and more vibrant city” and its cross-sector approach is commendable. However, the citywide plan seems to be heavily anchored on a single Body Mass Index (BMI) data point. This risks sending a narrow... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347711/hong-kongs-weight-management-plan-bmi-should-be-one-data-point-among-many?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347711/hong-kongs-weight-management-plan-bmi-should-be-one-data-point-among-many?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan After a gym in central China suddenly closed, leaving its clients unable to receive refunds, one of its fitness coaches completed his 877 classes at his own expense of 200,000 yuan (US$28,000), stating, “Trust is more important than anything else.” The story of the coach, surnamed Zhang, went viral online and garnered half a million likes on social media in China after being reported by Jiupai News in mid-March. The 29-year-old Zhang previously worked at Aishang Gym in Wuhan, Hubei province, as... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347703/china-coach-goes-above-and-beyond-trains-clients-own-cost-us28000-after-gym-shuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3347703/china-coach-goes-above-and-beyond-trains-clients-own-cost-us28000-after-gym-shuts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Round-the-clock gyms have mushroomed across Hong Kong in recent years, offering flexibility and convenience to time-pressed people juggling work and exercise. But just like the notorious problems of aggressive sales tactics and long membership contracts with chain fitness centres in the industry’s heyday, these smaller outlets running on a new business model also come with hidden costs and privacy issues that consumers cannot afford to ignore. A targeted investigation by the Consumer Council on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347264/more-transparency-needed-fees-and-data-24-hour-gym-memberships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347264/more-transparency-needed-fees-and-data-24-hour-gym-memberships?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa On World Obesity Day, March 4, Hong Kong launched its first three-year action plan on weight management targeting rising obesity rates. Citing a Report of Population Health Survey 2020–22 conducted by the Department of Health, the government noted that over 50 per cent of Hong Kong’s adult population is overweight or obese based on their Body Mass Index. “It’s heartening to see the government taking steps to build a healthy community that promotes nutrition education and regular exercise,” said... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:15:12 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Long before calorie counting and healthy diets, women in ancient China were already under intense pressure to stay slim, even swallowing cacti or silk in pursuit of what was perceived as perfection. Many assume ancient Chinese women prized fuller figures, but the reality was more nuanced. The Tang dynasty (618–907) is often cited as the classic example, thanks in part to figures such as the female sovereign Wu Zetian and the consort Yang Yuhuan. Yet plumpness was never the sole ideal. In most... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3347118/swallowing-pieces-silk-eating-cacti-or-just-1-meal-day-all-pursuit-thinness-ancient-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3347118/swallowing-pieces-silk-eating-cacti-or-just-1-meal-day-all-pursuit-thinness-ancient-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan A New Year’s resolution in early 2021 to eat healthier had unexpected but welcome consequences for Shanghai native Jenny Yue. The resident of Vancouver, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, not only lost more than 22kg (48 pounds) but also took up bodybuilding and launched a freeze-dried-fruit business with her husband. Yue, 30, and husband Han, 32, from China’s Henan province, were working together as project managers to implement an online medical record system across British Columbia... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346840/how-mother-lost-23kg-8-months-took-bodybuilding-and-started-food-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346840/how-mother-lost-23kg-8-months-took-bodybuilding-and-started-food-business?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The authorities in a grass-roots community in eastern China have trended on social media for its “redundant flesh in exchange for beef” weight-loss initiative targeting local residents. Since the Shanbei Community in Liangxi District, Wuxi, Jiangsu province, launched the creative health campaign on social media on March 9, more than 2,400 people applied to take part within three days, according to the news website The Paper. Internet users have shown immense interest in the move, with many... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346847/fat-beef-china-local-drive-rewards-residents-05kg-meat-same-amount-weight-lost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346847/fat-beef-china-local-drive-rewards-residents-05kg-meat-same-amount-weight-lost?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Taiwanese singer has sparked controversy for performing a “vacuum belly” workout routine at a concert in northwestern China. Videos of Ella Chen Jiahua showing her contracted belly, with her ribs prominently protruding, at her concert in Xian, Shaanxi province on March 7 have gone viral on social media, China Youth Daily reported. Chen, 44, tells her audiences: “I would like to perform a stunt for you. Please look at me carefully. Cameramen, please zoom in on me.” She begins the movement while... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346329/taiwan-singer-ignites-debate-showing-popular-vacuum-belly-technique-lose-weight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3346329/taiwan-singer-ignites-debate-showing-popular-vacuum-belly-technique-lose-weight?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Monthly fees at Hong Kong’s 24-hour fitness centres vary widely and can more than double depending on additional charges, the Consumer Council has found, as it warned residents to be cautious when providing sensitive personal data, including facial images for recognition systems. The consumer watchdog revealed on Monday the results of a survey of 11 round-the-clock gym operators, finding that although all offered monthly membership plans, nearly half imposed extra non-refundable charges that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346709/hong-kong-watchdog-warns-24-hour-gym-users-hidden-costs-data-privacy-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346709/hong-kong-watchdog-warns-24-hour-gym-users-hidden-costs-data-privacy-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:03:47 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg News of black rain falling on Tehran felt all too familiar to Nejat Rahmanian as he scrolled through alerts on social media feeds and tried to contact relatives on March 8. Israeli drone strikes hit giant oil depots and refineries on the outskirts of the Iranian capital a few hours earlier, setting fuel on fire and releasing columns of black smoke, which mixed with rain clouds that poured toxic chemicals onto the city later in the day. The descriptions reminded the Iranian researcher of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346662/black-rain-iran-wars-toxic-pollution-will-spread-and-last-decades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346662/black-rain-iran-wars-toxic-pollution-will-spread-and-last-decades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:25:31 +0000 Joyce Yip Joyce Yip Summer Wong Man-ting, 31, was ready to sprint into her final race at the 2025 World Obstacle – UIPM OCR World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, last September. Coming off a race in Barbados less than a month before, however, she was still recovering from both jet lag and injuries, and the relentless rain and 12-degree Celsius temperature had aggravated her cold. The horn blared, and the chorus of Banners’ “Someone to You” ripped through the tense air. Wong had one shot against Melia Ochsner,... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3345559/meet-summer-wong-face-hong-kongs-growing-ocr-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3345559/meet-summer-wong-face-hong-kongs-growing-ocr-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Malaysia has slashed operating licence fees for gyms in Kuala Lumpur by 80 per cent, offering a regulatory “carrot” as the government tries to push residents in one of Southeast Asia’s heaviest nations to exercise more. The move comes as Malaysia grapples with some of the region’s highest obesity rates – a problem health officials say is especially pronounced in sedentary urban centres such as the capital. Under the new rate, effective from January 1, gyms in Kuala Lumpur now pay 10 ringgit... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3345861/malaysias-new-plan-beat-obesity-slash-gym-licence-fees-kuala-lumpur?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3345861/malaysias-new-plan-beat-obesity-slash-gym-licence-fees-kuala-lumpur?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 02:30:11 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson Strong women run throughout this issue. It is International Women’s Day today, after all. In our cover story, Salomé Grouard meets filmmaker Elizabeth Lo, whose documentary Mistress Dispeller was shortlisted in December for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar – a first in the category for a Hong Kong director. The film explores China’s strange and little-known industry of “mistress dispellers”, professionals hired to end extramarital affairs. What I found extraordinary was the sensitivity with... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3345750/week-postmag-celebration-women-film-sport-science-and-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3345750/week-postmag-celebration-women-film-sport-science-and-life?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:45:11 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter “Should you be out here in such rough conditions?” is the kind of patronising comment women in outrigger canoeing still hear regularly – especially when they are part of a crew whose members are all above the age of 50. “The boat doesn’t care about your gender. It only cares that you show up and put in 110 per cent effort,” says Eva Lind-Mallo, 53, who was on a Masters team of six Hong Kong women who raced at the World Distance Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last year. “And in our ohana... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345509/these-hong-kong-women-are-showing-whats-possible-their-sports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345509/these-hong-kong-women-are-showing-whats-possible-their-sports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Social media is filled with influencers rating electrolyte supplements or even telling followers how to make their own. But experts say many of the claims about the health benefits of these drinks need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Electrolytes are electrically charged substances that help regulate chemical reactions in the body. In the context of hydration, they balance fluid levels inside and outside cells, says Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic in the US state... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345208/why-electrolyte-drinks-gatorade-and-pocari-sweat-arent-always-beneficial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345208/why-electrolyte-drinks-gatorade-and-pocari-sweat-arent-always-beneficial?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Carolina Malis Carolina Malis There was a time when a warm bath and a lavender candle represented the height of bedtime preparation. Now, we’ve gone all elemental: swirling magnesium into mocktails, rubbing it onto our calves, frothing it into hot chocolate and counting out gummies like rosary beads. But does the mineral actually help anyone sleep better? Of course, we’ve been tossing and turning over sleep for years: tracking it, hacking it, catastrophising about it – so when TikTok entered its cosy-wellness era, magnesium... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3344472/magnesium-can-help-you-sleep-check-dose-and-most-effective-way-take-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3344472/magnesium-can-help-you-sleep-check-dose-and-most-effective-way-take-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A chubby seven-year-old boy in China who agreed to skip rope exactly in line with the number of thumbs-up a video of him doing so got has seen his video clip liked by more than 1.8 million internet users. The clip released by the father, surnamed He, on February 9 was flooded with likes, amused that the boy agreed to his father’s novel weight-loss idea, the Qilu Evening News reported. The boy, nicknamed Tangdou, which means sugar bean, is being raised by his grandparents in his hometown in... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343280/china-boy-skips-rope-many-times-he-receives-likes-lose-weight-gets-18-million-thumbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343280/china-boy-skips-rope-many-times-he-receives-likes-lose-weight-gets-18-million-thumbs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When teaching assistant Kavita Biswas first asked for a wheelchair at the airport, she was struggling to walk even short distances. It was a world away from her active life practising yoga and dance alongside her full-time job in a Hong Kong school. Suddenly, in her mid-forties, she found herself relying on a cane and, at times, a walking frame. Knee pain had steadily taken over her life, reshaping her days and narrowing her sense of what might still be possible. The pain began around four years... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344133/how-exercise-helped-mother-tackle-serious-knee-pain-and-return-cane-free-walking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344133/how-exercise-helped-mother-tackle-serious-knee-pain-and-return-cane-free-walking?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales The passion that black belt holder Lily Chan has for teaching aikido at her family’s Singapore school shines through in her classes. She has been training in the Japanese martial art for more than a decade, and is proud to be a part of the “dojo” founded by her oldest son, Shamus, and husband, Patrick. Aikido was developed by Japanese martial artist Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century. This modern, non-aggressive and unique form of self-defence focuses on harmony and non-violent conflict... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343703/73-year-old-singaporean-aikido-black-belt-only-started-learning-her-60s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343703/73-year-old-singaporean-aikido-black-belt-only-started-learning-her-60s?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar Google co-founder Sergey Brin – who is estimated to have a net worth of US$245 billion at the time of writing, making him one of the richest people in the world, per Forbes – has a “really wonderful Maga girlfriend”. That’s the title Donald Trump gave to wellness influencer Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, 32, at a White House dinner last year, which she was attending with her 52-year-old boyfriend, Brin, according to The New York Times. Gilbert-Soto is a vocal supporter of the US president and frequently... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3343710/meet-google-co-founder-sergey-brins-maga-girlfriend-influencer-gerelyn-gilbert-soto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3343710/meet-google-co-founder-sergey-brins-maga-girlfriend-influencer-gerelyn-gilbert-soto?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:00:14 +0000 dpa dpa Any sugar – especially too much sugar – is bad for your health, so reducing the amount you eat is always a good idea. Whether you choose to fast ahead of the new season, for Lent – 40 days of fasting and prayer – or because sugar is unhealthy, it is a chance for ⁠a fresh start. But how do you turn down a fresh muffin or a cheeky chocolate bar after exercising? A nutritionist shares ways ⁠to banish the cravings and stick to your resolution. Temporarily giving up treats like chocolate and cake is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343745/want-beat-your-sugar-cravings-how-cut-down-and-even-quit-unhealthy-sugary-foods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343745/want-beat-your-sugar-cravings-how-cut-down-and-even-quit-unhealthy-sugary-foods?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:16:07 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Ben Payet’s story is not an unfamiliar one: a high-achieving professional whose health quietly slipped down his list of priorities. The finance executive moved with his wife from London to Singapore three years ago to be closer to her family. They were building a life in a new city, but Payet was carrying excess weight. When he stood on the scales in October 2024, he was shocked. It read 93kg (205lbs), a sharp increase from the 77kg he had weighed in 2019. He would go on to lose 21kg over the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343270/how-singapore-based-executive-lost-21kg-9-months-and-cured-his-knee-pain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343270/how-singapore-based-executive-lost-21kg-9-months-and-cured-his-knee-pain?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:15:07 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson With rising living costs and persistent inflation in much of the world, many consumers are cutting back on spending – but not, it seems, when it comes to wellness. The wellness industry is now valued at US$6.8 trillion and forecast to reach US$10 trillion by 2029, according to the Global Wellness Institute, a non-profit research and education foundation. Its sister organisation, the Global Wellness Summit, recently revealed its Future of Wellness report, with a focus on trends that are expected... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343389/8-hot-wellness-trends-2026-womens-longevity-and-sports-health-raves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343389/8-hot-wellness-trends-2026-womens-longevity-and-sports-health-raves?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 08:15:11 +0000 Rachel Chan Rachel Chan Hong Kong stands at a definitive demographic crossroads. With one-third of our population projected to be over 65 by the 2040s, the city can either treat ageing as a fiscal burden or it can transform longevity into a sustainable growth engine. Drawing inspiration from Andrew Scott and Lynda Gratton’s work on the 100-Year Life project, Hong Kong should boldly embrace longevity as a new development frontier. By leveraging our unique strengths in finance, world-class regulatory frameworks and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung A new collaboration between Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) and Pure Fitness promises to combine “grace and strength” in a series of community workshops to demystify the classical dance form while promoting wellness culture and the science of modern fitness in Hong Kong. Designed to dispel the perception of ballet as an inaccessible and elite art form, the programme, titled “You Are More Than You Know”, kicked off with introductory workshops on February 7 and 8 at Pure Fitness in IFC Mall in Central, led... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343004/hong-kong-ballet-and-pure-fitness-join-forces-offer-new-exercise-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343004/hong-kong-ballet-and-pure-fitness-join-forces-offer-new-exercise-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales Hong Kong actors Chow Yun-fat, 70, Kent Cheng, 74, Lau Kong, 79, and Paw Hee-ching, 76, made headlines in January for being among the oldest participants in the 10km event at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026. In 2025, the then 69-year-old Chow ran the half-marathon at the event, completing the 13.1-mile (21km) race in two hours, 24 minutes and 33 seconds. Recently, a growing number of people in their sixties, seventies, eighties and older have been in the news for taking part in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342586/how-people-70-year-old-chow-yun-fat-keep-pushing-their-endurance-limits-they-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342586/how-people-70-year-old-chow-yun-fat-keep-pushing-their-endurance-limits-they-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The use of weight-loss drugs has transformed the treatment of obesity, a chronic disease so prevalent globally it has been described as an epidemic. Injections that suppress appetite have changed the lives of millions. The new drugs were endorsed conditionally by the World Health Organization in December and are seen as a powerful clinical tool offering hope. But the injections come with health risks and common side effects. It is essential that they are only taken under medical supervision.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341827/properly-supervised-weight-loss-drugs-have-place-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341827/properly-supervised-weight-loss-drugs-have-place-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:45:09 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur From a shy stay-at-home wife and mother to a world-stage bodybuilder, celebrity trainer, mountaineer, DJ and photographer, Kiran Dembla’s transformation is a reminder that life is what we make it. Her journey shows there is no age limit to starting life’s greatest adventures and is captured in her 2024 biography, Fitness Machine: The Extraordinary Life of Kiran Dembla. Dembla grew up in Agra, India, in a middle-class family. She had a passion for music, performing on stage and earning a master’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341635/how-indian-mother-lost-24kg-7-months-and-became-bodybuilding-dj?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341635/how-indian-mother-lost-24kg-7-months-and-became-bodybuilding-dj?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 04:45:09 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter While planning to run an ultra-marathon along the historic Silk Road, Ria Xi was alarmed when AI warned her about taking NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – while ultra-running. She jumped onto Instagram to tell her 38,000 followers “do not take NSAIDs” when running long distances because of the impact they can have on blood flow to the kidneys. Beijing-born Xi was prompted to make the “public service announcement” after she had previously been told, while seeking treatment for knee... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341642/why-nsaids-ibuprofen-and-naproxen-might-be-bad-news-long-distance-runners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341642/why-nsaids-ibuprofen-and-naproxen-might-be-bad-news-long-distance-runners?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities have signalled openness to expanding the city’s annual marathon, suggesting future routes could bring runners closer to the public, allowing residents to cheer them on with “egg waffles and milk tea” along the way. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui told lawmakers that the government maintained a “positive and open” attitude towards expanding the capacity of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon or even turning it into a two-day event, an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341458/hong-kong-eyes-bigger-marathon-egg-waffles-and-milk-tea-cheer-runners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341458/hong-kong-eyes-bigger-marathon-egg-waffles-and-milk-tea-cheer-runners?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:27:32 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang A young Chinese woman who was determined to look her best as a bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding lost 15kg in just two months through extreme dieting. The crash diet eventually led her to develop prediabetes, sparking shock online. The 26-year-old known by the pseudonym Xiaoyu is an office worker based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, southeastern China. She is 160cm tall and once weighed around 65kg. After being invited by her best friend to be a bridesmaid, she became determined to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340526/china-woman-aims-look-her-best-bridesmaid-resorts-extreme-diet-suffers-prediabetes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3340526/china-woman-aims-look-her-best-bridesmaid-resorts-extreme-diet-suffers-prediabetes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Christina Ko Christina Ko For the last year or so, there’s been a sleek, red, octagonal vessel seeking pride of place on your supplements shelf, targeted at replacing all your daily veggie caps in one aesthetically pleasing fell swoop. It’s called IM8, and it is the biggest disrupter the supplements industry has seen in a long time: an all-in-one powdered product that mixes with water to deliver a blend of 92 ingredients at clinically effective dosages designed to boost your health – from vitamins and minerals to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341021/danny-yeung-and-david-beckhams-im8-shaking-supplements-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341021/danny-yeung-and-david-beckhams-im8-shaking-supplements-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:00:09 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Dr Nigma Talib looks more like a celebrity than a bestselling author and highly acclaimed naturopathic doctor. A quick glance at her Instagram feed reveals photos alongside the likes of Penélope Cruz, Sofía Vergara, Sienna Miller and Gwyneth Paltrow (she even gave the latter a platelet-rich plasma facial on Goop’s Netflix series). Turns out most of them aren’t just her friends, but loyal clients who have long sought her expertise and advice on how to reverse the signs of ageing, which happens to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341007/how-dr-nigma-talib-keeps-hollywood-listers-looking-youthful-through-naturopathy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341007/how-dr-nigma-talib-keeps-hollywood-listers-looking-youthful-through-naturopathy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 02:00:19 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter For many people in Hong Kong and elsewhere, January is a month of reinvention during which we feel compelled to join a gym, start dieting, detox or set an ambitious resolution. But a quieter counter-trend, known as “soft January”, is emerging. It reflects a growing desire to begin the year with gentleness rather than urgency, focusing on self-love rather than self-criticism. For Tammy Hackman, a holistic health coach who lives on Ma Wan island in Hong Kong, soft January was a personal practice... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340772/what-soft-january-new-trend-helps-you-start-year-being-kinder-yourself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340772/what-soft-january-new-trend-helps-you-start-year-being-kinder-yourself?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Zoe Suen Zoe Suen Sometimes, the seeds for fashion’s most compelling shifts are sown far away from runways and high-end ateliers. For Johanna Parv, the London-based independent designer whose namesake brand merges the worlds of cycling and luxury fashion, the impulse built as she traversed the city on two wheels, seeing the way people had to awkwardly manipulate their outfit to avoid, say, getting a suit trouser or skirt hem caught in their bike chain. “A lot of functional sportswear is historically designed by... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3340441/luxury-sportswear-having-moment-niche-brands-redefine-workout-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3340441/luxury-sportswear-having-moment-niche-brands-redefine-workout-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A jungle temple in Thailand hailed as a “hidden gem” has urged tourists to stop “inappropriate behaviour” after they were spotted doing gymnastics and wearing revealing clothing at the site. The Wat Pha Lat temple, nestled on a mountain above Chiang Mai in the country’s north, is a popular tourist spot. It also serves as a peaceful place for monks to meditate. On January 15, the temple published a post on its social media account, which has 11,000 followers, urging its visitors to stop... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3340511/not-gym-thai-temple-warns-tourists-not-do-yoga-climb-ancient-rocks-place-worship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3340511/not-gym-thai-temple-warns-tourists-not-do-yoga-climb-ancient-rocks-place-worship?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese office workers are literally switching to working on the run as the building of bonds with customers and colleagues becomes increasingly trendy. On mainland social media, increasing numbers of people say running has become their company’s work culture or helped them bond with clients. A woman based in Beijing said she first learned about the concept of “business running” two years ago when her client invited her on a 7am run. The woman, surnamed Peng, said the client was difficult, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339742/china-office-workers-run-bond-peers-clients-pressured-meet-speed-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3339742/china-office-workers-run-bond-peers-clients-pressured-meet-speed-expectations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It is nearly 30 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) classified obesity as a disease linked to a range of severe illnesses. It remains a worry that this has had little impact on public perception of the condition over recent years. The latest survey of 1,000 residents by the Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity shows reason for concern. It revealed that 27.2 per cent were obese, nearly 5 percentage points more than in a previous study in 2018. Nearly 20 per cent were... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340114/lack-obesity-awareness-weighs-hong-kongs-public-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340114/lack-obesity-awareness-weighs-hong-kongs-public-health?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 22:45:08 +0000