2006-10-25
The Department of Health (DH) has launched a series of initiatives under the EatSmart@school.hk campaign to tackle the problem of adolescent obesity, high blood glucose level, high blood pressure and abnormal fat level.
Speaking at a press conference today (October 25), the Assistant Director of Health (Health Promotion), Dr Regina Ching, said a survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) had found that some 42 per cent of local adolescents aged between 11 and 18 were having problems with excessive body weight, high blood pressure, high blood sugar or abnormal blood fat levels. When three or more of the above factors co-exist, the adolescent is said to be suffering from metabolic syndrome, a condition strongly associated with increased risk of developing heart diseases, stroke, kidney failure, diabetes and cancers.
"These risk factors could bring damaging effects on health in later life. They were the result of unhealthy lifestyle among children possibly beginning in primary school years or even before," Dr Ching said.
Also speaking at the press conference, Professor Juliana Chan of CUHK said the survey covered 2115 students aged between 11 and 18, and randomly selected from 14 secondary schools.
"Findings of the survey indicated that 2.9% boys and 2% girls of the students studied could be said to be suffering from metabolic syndrome, defined as 3 or more of 5 risk factors. When analysed by individual risk factor, 32.2 per cent of the study sample had high blood pressure, 10.9 per cent had high triglyceride, 2.4 per cent had low HDL-C (good cholesterol), 9 per cent had central obesity, and 0.3 per cent had abnormal blood glucose level."
"The findings are comparable to figures from many western countries highlighting the fact that childhood and adolescent obesity is reaching epidemic proportions," Dr CC Chow, President, Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity said.
"General obesity, family history of diabetes and studying in schools with lower academic performance were independent risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Our study indicated the need for more research to study the interaction of these risk factors and called for intersectoral collaboration and community participation, notably schools and parents, in creating an environment supportive of healthy lifestyles and facilitating healthy food choices by schools, families and children." Professor Juliana Chan concluded.
To address the issue, Dr Ching said the education, health and business sectors, as well as professional groups were joining forces to implement a number of initiatives to mobilize community support for better nutrition in schools, strengthen parents' and food suppliers' knowledge base of healthy food choices, develop skills among parents and teachers for monitoring nutritional content of food sold in schools, and encourage home-school-supplier collaboration for healthier food provision for children.
As a part of the health campaign "EatSmart@school.hk" launched this September, Dr Ching said a thematic website (http://www.eatsmart.gov.hk), was tailor-made for school management, students, parents and food traders.
Activities concerning the 'EatSmart@school.hk' campaign, nutritional information, games, educational resources, teaching kits and videos, guidelines, healthy recipes could be obtainable from the website, Dr Ching said.
She added that an inter-school slogan and e-card design competition, jointly organized by DH and Hong Kong Education City (HKedCity), to invoke students' creativity and to enhance their awareness and knowledge of healthy eating is now open for submissions.
"As a paper saving exercise, entries should be submitted electronically through the websites (either www.eatsmart.gov.hk or www.hkedcity.net/proj/eatsmart ). In January next year, all primary school students will have the chance to vote for their favourite slogans and e-cards, making use of their personal HKedCity student account," Dr Ching said.
"Schools are also invited to show their support for healthy eating by making their on-line "School Pledge" in the designated area of the websites," Dr Ching said.
She added that a territory-wide School "NutriAgent" Project (SNAP) to encourage home-school-supplier cooperation for supply of healthier food items in primary schools had just started.
"Over 140 primary schools have enrolled and 18 training sessions for teachers and parents will be completed in October and November."
"The focus of the training is to equip participants with simple yet practical tools to monitor the school nutritional environment, provide feedback and negotiate for healthier food choices," Dr Ching said.
End/Wednesday, October 25, 2006