Press release - immediate release
December 21, 2020
After almost a year of roller-coaster ride since the COVID-19 outbreak began, Hongkongers have wittily developed a unique on-and-off anti-pandemic approach. That is, people go into stay-at-home mode when the situation is severe, yet they flock back to shopping malls and restaurants as soon as the pandemic appears to be easing. This has become the "new normal" way of living.
According to the latest survey by the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society (HKACS), nearly 70% of respondents changed their exercise and eating habits because of the pandemic. For example, they stopped exercising and ordered takeaways more often whenever there was a surge in COVID-19 cases. One-third of them reported that their heaviest weight was up, on average, more than 3.6kg compared to that before the pandemic.
HKACS warned that this on-and-off approach could increase the risk of developing cancer. They called on Hongkongers to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet to reduce the risk of cancer while adapting to the new normal. As the holiday season is approaching, it is particularly important to resume the stay-at-home mode and follow HKACS's advice in order to stay safe from both the coronavirus and cancer.
On 13-27 November 2020, HKACS conducted a survey of 1,094 people on Hong Kong People's Changes in Eating and Exercise Habits and Their Risk of Cancer in the New Normal amid the Pandemic. The results showed that 68% of respondents changed their exercise habits while 67% of them changed their eating habits because of the pandemic.
Changes in exercise habits
47% of respondents reduced their exercise level amid the raging waves of infections in April to May and July to August. Among these respondents, their exercise level was reduced 60% from an average of 2 days per week before the pandemic to an average of 0.8 days per week. 38% of them did not exercise at all. The major reasons include minimizing exposure to infection (81%) and having no sports premises (45%).
When the situation was less severe, for example, in October to mid November, 53% of respondents returned to their pre-COVID-19 exercise habits and 32% of them increased their exercise level. The main reasons for raising exercise level include feeling the need to lose weight (50%), reopening of sports facilities (46%) and seizing the small window of opportunity to exercise before the arrival of another wave of infections (43%). However, 15% of respondents continued to exercise less to avoid catching the virus (44%) or due to a lack of motivation after a long halt (38%).
Changes in eating habits
Amid the pandemic, 64% of respondents ordered takeaways more often. To avoid going out, 35% of them made online grocery purchase more frequently, with frozen meat as the most common foodstuff to buy.
As 75% of respondents agreed that they should stay at home more when the epidemic situation was severe, they also maintained that they should meet up with friends or dine out when things improved. 9% of them reported that they had compensatory eating out habits when the outbreak abated; while 24% of them ate more than usual in one dining out setting. 11% of respondents maintained that they should go out drinking with friends more often when the number of cases went down.
With the use of such on-and-off approach, more than 30% of respondents reported an increase in their heaviest weight compared with before the pandemic. 31% of men gained an average of 4.2kg while 35% of women gained an average of 3.6kg.
"Fighting against COVID-19 is a marathon. The survey results showed that most Hong Kong people behaved sensibly amid the pandemic. The pandemic has been going on for almost a year after all. It is understandable for people to meet up with friends and family in a safe way when the infections are slowing down. However, while they are fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, the cancer risk resulting from different anti-pandemic actions should be balanced out," Dr. LIU King Yin, Rico, Chairman, Cancer Education Committee of HKACS, remarked.
Stay-at-home mode | Five unique anti-pandemic actions | Resulting cancer risk (combined data from various studies) |
On | 1. Adopting a sedentary lifestyle | Physical inactivity caused by working from home and watching television... - puts individuals at an 82% higher risk of cancer mortality - is the principal cause for 21-25% of breast and colon cancer burden - increases risk of myeloma and ovarian cancer in women - increases risk of prostate cancer in men |
On | 2. Ordering frozen meat online 3. Frequent use of food delivery services | The disadvantages of frequently eating an oily and red meat/ processed meat diet are as follows: - Excessive fat intake is associated with colorectal, breast, ovary and prostate cancer - The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified processed meat as Group 1 carcinogen (i.e., carcinogenic to humans) and red meat as Group 2A carcinogen (i.e., probably carcinogenic to humans) |
Off | 4. Compensatory eating out and binge eating | Restaurant cuisines are generally greasy and rich in meat (their disadvantages are the same as above) Overeating is closely linked to weight gain. According to the American Cancer Society, excess body weight is responsible for about 5% of cancers in men and about 11% of cancers in women |
Off | 5. Going out for drinks | Alcohol use increases the risk of developing six types of cancer, including oesophageal cancer, breast cancer, mouth, pharynx & larynx cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer and liver cancer |
In spite of the raging fourth wave of infections, some people have planned to meet up with friends and family to celebrate the upcoming festive season. "There is no single solution to fighting against COVID-19. People can still enjoy the festive season as long as they do it tactically. With the ongoing fourth wave of infections, I believe that the public has already initiated the "stay-at-home" mode. However, remember to exercise, eat healthy and maintain social distancing while staying connected with family and friends," Dr. Liu reminded.
Citing the WHO Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior updated last month, Dr. Liu urged adults to do at least 150-300 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Children should do 60 minutes of exercise per day. For people working from home, get up and move around or even do leg raises while checking emails and shopping online on computers or mobile phones.
When it comes to eating, it is recommended to opt for healthier food and restaurants, consume less than 73g of red meat per day, as well as avoid processed meat and unhealthy snacks. In addition to maintaining social distancing, it is also important to utilize different ways to safely communicate with family and friends, such as connecting with them over phone or video calls and wearing a mask throughout an in-person meeting.
HKACS reminded the public that the long-term solution should be maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing cancer risk, regardless of what anti-pandemic actions they took or when the pandemic would end.
