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12th June, 2004
Students Relate Self-Image With Body Shape
Hong Kong Gourmet Identifies Need for Health Education
and a Balanced Diet
'The Fittest Generation - Student Weight
Management', a recent survey conducted by Hong Kong
Gourmet Limited, one of Hong Kong's major school caterers,
revealed that while the majority of primary and secondary
school students enjoy normal weight and height levels,
30% of respondents perceive themselves as excessively
fat or overweight. The survey identified a correlation
between body shape and self-image in both boys and girls
with over 44% of students having taken action to change
their body shape and 18% of parents having made attempts
to change the physical appearance of their children.
Mr Lo Wing Sun, Assistant
Principal of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, said: "Secondary
school students are easily influenced by their peer
groups. It is important to help teenagers establish
a positive self-image which is vital for their physical
and psychological development."
Mr. Ivan Chung, a registered
dietitian and Assistant Professor of Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, consulted on the survey on weight management
for nearly 2,300 primary and secondary students and
their parents throughout Hong Kong in May 2004. The
average age of primary school respondents was 10 years
old while the average age for secondary school respondents
was 14 years old.
"Today's younger generation is heavily
influenced by the mass media and trends. They are prone
to base their own self-image on the shape of their bodies.
This is not surprising considering that 59% and 57%
of the survey respondents chose watching TV and surfing
the Internet respectively as their favourite past-times,"
Mr. Chung said.
"The key finding of the survey is
not that students and their parents are concerned about
their body shape but that they tend to use incorrect
ways to lose weight. Instead of regular exercise and
a balanced diet, some tend to opt for body trimming
food and courses to achieve figures that mirror their
role models and elevate their own self-image."
The research found that 37% of secondary
and primary school students interviewed spend less than
1 hour exercising per week compared with the recommended
40 - 60 minutes per day and 30 - 40 minutes per day
for males and females aged under 15 respectively. It
also identified that in addition to watching TV and
surfing the Internet, sleeping was ranked as one of
the most popular activities especially by secondary
school girls (52%).
Commissioned by Hong Kong Gourmet to gain
an inside view on how students relate to a balanced
diet and weight management, the survey findings revealed
a preference by primary and secondary school students
for luncheon meat, sausages and sushi. Snacks, desserts
and instant noodles remained the most popular foods.
Ms. Kitty Chung, Principal of Shap Pat
Heung Rural Committee Kung Yik She Primary School, said:
"It is vital that we educate students and their
parents about healthy living. School is an ideal place
to educate students about a balanced diet."
On the other end of the spectrum, 12% of
the students surveyed had experienced prominent weight
loss, whether naturally or intentionally, in the past
three months. The negative effects of extreme weight
loss include a reduction in the immunity system causing
lethargy and illness, and a reduced metabolism rate
that can affect the normal functioning of body organs.
Other symptoms include dry and dull skin, yellowish
hair and abnormal hormone excretions and irregular menstruation.
Children's brain development may also be affected if
they take slimming medication improperly.
Mr. Michael Au, Chairman of the Federation
of Parent-Teacher Associations, Wan Chai District, commented:
"Students' healthy development are closely linked
to family. Parents should pay more attention to their
children and encourage healthy living concept when they
are young."
Based on the survey findings, Hong Kong
Gourmet is taking a number of steps to provide a wider
variety of nutritious and healthy lunches for students.
The 'Healthy Choices' daily lunch boxes are low in fat,
sugar and salt but high in fibre and calcium. They also
include a range of vegetarian options. The caterer will
also introduce different monthly theme menus such as
European style, South East Asia flavor and Japanese
special etc., to bring health and taste to student lunches.
Mr. David Kwan, Director and General Manager
of Hong Kong Gourmet said that in addition to healthy
food preparation methods, such as steaming, baking and
using more vegetables and less oil, a large focus will
be on education.
"We understand the importance of appearance
to students and we aim to assist teachers, parents and
students to understand the basic concepts behind a balanced
diet by inviting dietitians to deliver talks on healthy
eating habits, weight management and balanced meal preparation,"
Mr. Kwan said.
Established in 2001, Hong Kong Gourmet
Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vitasoy International
Holdings Limited. It is a modern central kitchen facility
that supplies healthy, nutritious, safe and tasty lunch
boxes to primary and secondary schools every day. Hong
Kong Gourmet Limited fully implements the Hazard Analysis
Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards. HACCP is an
internationally recognized system with a prevention-based,
pro-active approach to food hygiene and safety.
- End -
For further information, please contact:
Carmen Mak / Stella Lung
Public Relations Department
Vitasoy International Holdings Limited
Tel: 2468 9644
E-mail:pubrel@vitasoy.com
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