11th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) A recent survey has revealed that fewer than 8 per cent of students in Hong Kong participate in physical activities that align with the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily. Conducted by the Physical Fitness Association in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, the survey highlights particularly concerning trends among secondary school students.
In primary schools, only 6.1 per cent of girls and less than 20 per cent of boys meet the exercise standard. The situation is even more dire in secondary schools, where just 3.9 per cent of boys and 2.7 per cent of girls achieve the recommended activity levels.
The survey also examined grip strength, a measure of forearm muscle strength, revealing a decline in average grip strength among 12-year-old boys from 19.5 kilograms in 2015 to 18.4 kilograms in 2023. This places Hong Kong students at the lowest grip strength levels compared to peers in regions such as mainland China, the Middle East, and South Asia.
Patrick Ip Pak-keung, a clinical professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, emphasised the importance of physical activity for boosting immunity, reducing the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, alleviating stress, and improving concentration. He noted that since the Covid pandemic, many parents have prioritised academic performance over physical activity, which can adversely affect their children’s overall well-being and academic success. Ip encourages parents to involve their children in more physical activities to foster better health and learning outcomes.
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