Health Department: 17.5% of students are overweight, over 90% have insufficient physical activity

The Hong Kong Department of Health’s “Student Health Services 2024/25 Annual Health Report” shows that overweight (including obesity) and excessive screen time for entertainment remain common among students across the city, and vision conditions are not ideal. The department urges students to maintain a balanced diet, engage in more physical activity, reduce screen time, protect their eyesight, and pay attention to mental and social health.

In the 2024/25 school year, the overall prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among students is 17.5% (17.2% in primary students and 17.9% in secondary students). In the 2023/24 school year, the prevalence was 17.1% (16.9% in primary students and 17.4% in secondary students).

Eighty-nine point four percent of students (82.5% of primary students and 96.8% of secondary students) reported insufficient daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Ninety-three point six percent (91.5% of primary students and 95.8% of secondary students) said they do not engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, indicating insufficient physical activity among students.

The proportion of first-grade students wearing glasses is 14.5%, similar to the previous school year but still much higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic (about 11%). Additionally, the proportion of older students wearing glasses is higher, with 55.1% of sixth graders wearing glasses. Among primary and secondary students who underwent vision tests in the 2024/25 school year, 17.3% needed further assessment due to failing initial vision tests or other eye or vision problems.

Prolonged screen use increases the risk of myopia. In the 2024/25 school year, 41.8% of primary students reported spending two hours or more on the internet or electronic devices for entertainment on regular school days, a decrease from the previous year but still higher than the approximately 30% before the pandemic; among secondary students, the figure is even higher at 81.1%, which is concerning.

The health survey results from the Department of Health indicate that most students find family life (96%) and school life (93.8%) to be happy or very happy, with both percentages higher than the previous school year. However, 2.1% of students reported experiencing online bullying in the past 12 months, a decrease from 3% last year; additionally, 1.6% and 0.7% of students reported having planned or attempted suicide in the past 12 months, both lower than the previous year.