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Health & Wellness

Janet Leung overcame a decades-long eating disorder, rooted in grief and body-image pressures, through therapy and self-discovery. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Wellness

Hunger replaced joy: Hong Kong woman’s 20-year eating disorder after dad’s death

Janet Leung lost more than two decades to severe food restriction. Now, at 46, she reflects on finding peace, therapy and the joys in recovery.

Wellness

‘Who cares if you’re bulky?’ Hong Kong-born weightlifter on power and femininity

Wellness

A brief guide to choosing the right underwear for workouts

Wellness

1 in 20 Hongkongers has hepatitis B, many unaware. What are the risks?

Hepatitis B is a viral liver infection that can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. A vaccine exists, but many don’t know they are infected.

Hepatitis B is endemic in Hong Kong, affecting 5 per cent of the population. However, 40 per cent of those who have it are unaware they are infected. Illustration: Mario Cameira
Hepatitis B is endemic in Hong Kong, affecting 5 per cent of the population. However, 40 per cent of those who have it are unaware they are infected. Illustration: Mario Cameira
Wellness

At 150kg, he was told he might not live to 30. How teacher lost 66kg and got fit

Hong Kong-based Paul Goodson suffered from sleep apnoea and binge eating disorder before a diet overhaul, running and Hyrox changed his life.

Wellness

Sex and intimacy change when a partner has dementia. How to manage it

Dementia often alters relationships beyond the sufferer’s urges. Experts share tips on dealing with this part of the condition few discuss.

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Wellness

Milk vs plant-based alternatives: 7 claims put to the test

Experts look at cow’s milk and alternatives like soy, almond and oat, comparing the benefits, allergy safety, climate impact and more.

Are plant-based milks healthier, more eco-friendly or better for people with allergies than cow’s milk? Experts fact-check seven claims. Photo: Shutterstock
Are plant-based milks healthier, more eco-friendly or better for people with allergies than cow’s milk? Experts fact-check seven claims. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

When the child you raised cuts you off. Why parental estrangement is on the rise

As more adult children in Hong Kong and beyond break contact with their parents, experts talk about causes and how to rebuild relationships.

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Wellness

How ballet helps these seniors keep their bodies – and brains – feeling young

Canny Chan, 68, and Mary Chan, 82, expected physical benefits when they took up ballet two years ago. The cognitive benefits were a surprise.

Travel

Why the first night in a hotel affects your sleep quality and how to improve it

The first night in a new place often results in worse sleep. Experts cite the evolutionary causes and give tips on sleeping better.

Why is the first night’s sleep in a hotel usually disturbed? Experts say it is probably an evolutionary leftover. Illustration: AP
Wellness

What is overthinking? How to recognise it and stop the feedback loop

More than just ‘thinking hard’, overthinking is a destructive cognitive trap driven by negative, repetitive thoughts. Here’s how to stop it.

Unlike deep thinking, overthinking is an aimless, destructive cycle driven by negative, repetitive thoughts that offer no resolution. However, there are self-help techniques to stop the feedback loop. Photo: Getty Images
Unlike deep thinking, overthinking is an aimless, destructive cycle driven by negative, repetitive thoughts that offer no resolution. However, there are self-help techniques to stop the feedback loop. Photo: Getty Images
Wellness

He lost 10kg in 10 months: 66-year-old Singaporean’s inspiring fitness journey

Attan bin Talib’s shift work and eating habits saw him hit 90kg and feel constantly fatigued. He realised he needed to transform his life.

Wellness

How well does your country support people with Alzheimer’s? New tool reveals

Alzheimer’s Disease International’s new AD Atlas highlights how countries diagnose, treat and support people with dementia.

Wellness

Hong Kong’s elderly risk ‘hidden malnutrition’. Expert tips on staying healthy

Many elderly people suffer from severe, unseen nutrient deficiencies. Experts describe the reasons, the signs and how to address it.

Despite the city having the highest life expectancy in the world, Hong Kong’s elderly face “hidden malnutrition” that sees nutrient deficiencies affecting health and independence. Experts describe the body’s key nutrient requirements as we age, and give advice on convenient ways to get them. Photo: Shutterstock
SCMP Highlights

Hong Kong’s dining battle; TV host’s insomnia struggle: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Singapore’s dragon dance to French cultural influence in Hong Kong, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

The Red Cuisine owner Joyce Yuen serves dishes at her restaurant in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Many restaurants in the city are struggling with falling customer numbers as more locals head to Shenzhen for cheaper meals. Photo: May Tse
The Red Cuisine owner Joyce Yuen serves dishes at her restaurant in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Many restaurants in the city are struggling with falling customer numbers as more locals head to Shenzhen for cheaper meals. Photo: May Tse
Wellness

Their rock ‘n’ roll life led to anxiety, depression. How they beat the ‘devil’

Celebrity couple Candy Lo and Sammy So talk about hitting rock bottom, taking up running, and how they now do marathons across the globe.

Wellness

Hong Kong TV star Kenneth Chan opens up on battles with insomnia and depression

The face of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in Hong Kong in the 2000s, Chan wishes to help others battling sleep and mental health issues.

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Wellness

How Erling Haaland gets great sleep and its role in fighting ‘inflammaging’

Quality rest, diet and lifestyle are vital for the prevention of chronic, low-grade inflammation – which accelerates as our bodies age.

Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland has gained attention not only for his extraordinary performances on the pitch, but for his rigorous wellness routine. Photo: Instagram/erling
Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland has gained attention not only for his extraordinary performances on the pitch, but for his rigorous wellness routine. Photo: Instagram/erling
Social media

Harry Potter meets Hong Kong pop culture in viral IG videos powered by ADHD

What if Hong Kong celebrities starred in Harry Potter? Kenneth Lee is using his ADHD-driven creativity to reimagine the franchise.

Wellness

The key to better brain health and ‘super-ageing’ could lie in your bones

Our bones produce a hormone called osteocalcin, activated by exercise, that crosses into the brain to fight memory loss and anxiety.

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Wellness

Why ‘extreme fitness FOMO’ can do more harm than good for people 40 and up

Driven by status and events like Hyrox, many midlife Hongkongers are pushing themselves to the limit. But experts warn of the dangers.

Leslie Evangelista, a personal trainer and the head strength and conditioning coach at Hong Kong Sports Clinic, says that while someone in their 20s can “borrow from tomorrow and get away with it ... a midlife body keeps the receipts”. Photo: May Tse
Wellness

Fit after 50: How Indian influencer couple beat chronic pain with exercise

Tara and Sushila Thapa overcame chronic pain by getting fit in midlife. Now their Instagram page and running group encourage others.

Tara (left) and Sushila Thapa run a 10km race in their home city of Dehradun, India, in 2025. Both have overcome chronic pain since taking up running in middle age, and now inspire others to do the same. Photo: Tara Thapa
Tara (left) and Sushila Thapa run a 10km race in their home city of Dehradun, India, in 2025. Both have overcome chronic pain since taking up running in middle age, and now inspire others to do the same. Photo: Tara Thapa
Artificial intelligence

AI | Will AI healthcare be China’s new global growth engine?

Artificial intelligence models and apps that help doctors in China diagnose disease and patients understand their health could be an export gold mine.

Wellness

How infinite scrolling hijacks the brain’s reward system like slot machines do

Two experts explain what infinite scrolling does to the brain, why teens are particularly affected, and how to beat the addiction.

Wellness

He’s 90 and still runs half-marathons. How this retired professor defies age

Meet Yul Kwon, a nonagenarian who maintains his endurance through daily exercise, a Mediterranean diet and a focus on sleep.

Yul Kwon, 90, runs in the BMO Vancouver Marathon half marathon race in May. Photo: Instagram/bmovanmarathon
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