Experts urge parents to combat childhood obesity in Hong Kong

Parents hold the key to combating childhood obesity in Hong Kong and should serve as strong role models for their children, experts have said, urging them to avoid rewarding children with junk food.

Despite efforts to help their overweight children lose weight, some parents may continue offering treats like ice cream and candies as incentives for good academic performance, Dr Queenie See Wing-shan, president-elect of the Hong Kong Obesity Society and a paediatric specialist observed.

This could be counterproductive as it reinforces the idea of unhealthy food as a reward, she said, calling for awareness ahead of World Obesity Day on Tuesday.

Around one in five primary and secondary school students were overweight in the 2022-2023 academic year, according to the latest Department of Health data released last June.

See suggested rewarding children with healthy alternatives, such as spending quality time together at the park.

“The family needs to work together to pursue a healthy lifestyle,” she added.

Childhood overweight and obesity rates had declined slightly for the first time in years after a Covid-era surge. The prevalence of overweight secondary students dropped from 22.1 per cent in the 2021-22 school year to 20.5 per cent in 2022-23, according to the Department of Health.