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Editorial | Lack of obesity awareness weighs on Hong Kong’s public health While the number of Hongkongers who are overweight or obese has risen, the level of understanding about its risks has barely changed since 2018 Reading Time:2 minutes Why you can trust SCMP SCMP Editorial Published: 6:45am, 18 Jan 2026 It is nearly 30 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) classified obesity as a disease linked to a range of severe illnesses. It remains a worry that this has had little impact on public perception of the condition over recent years. The latest survey of 1,000 residents by the Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity shows reason for concern. It revealed that 27.2 per cent were obese, nearly 5 percentage points more than in a previous study in 2018. Nearly 20 per cent were overweight based on the body mass index (BMI) benchmark. These results reflect another finding – almost 70 per cent of respondents were still unaware of the WHO classification, a level comparable with the 2018 result. The numbers are disappointing, given that the survey also showed people are generally aware obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes and puts people at risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease. Around 700,000 people in Hong Kong have diabetes. Association president Dr Andrea Luk On-yan says there is lower awareness of other complications, such as sleep apnoea, fatty liver, gout and even cancer. It is clear from surveys of this kind, as well as from research into diabetes, that promoting awareness of the risks of being overweight or obese, and that lifestyle changes in diet and exercise reduce the risks, remains a priority. Fewer than half of the respondents could identify BMI and waist circumference as the standard metrics for assessing obesity, while most still relied solely on body weight as their primary indicator. Luk said residents had a “superficial” understanding of obesity as a complex chronic disease. The study found that nearly 90 per cent of respondents still relied on dieting and exercise to lose weight. Hopefully, the growing popularity of GLP-1 injectable weight loss drugs, as well as their endorsement as slimming aids by famous people, will serve as a catalyst for greater awareness of obesity as a disease that can be treated in a number of ways. However, Hongkongers should be mindful of warnings from doctors against counterfeits and of the risks, including contamination or adulteration, of using injectable weight-loss drugs bought online or from parallel importers without a prescription. Advertisement Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals