Exercise, supplements, digital detoxing: Hongkongers’ new lifestyle obsessions
Wellness series
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Hong Kong is undergoing a major cultural shift in how people think about well-being. In a city long known for its frenetic pace and high-stress work environment, residents are becoming increasingly health-conscious.
A clear example of this trend is that Hongkongers are now more likely to say maintaining their physical and mental health is a priority as they age, ahead of long-held goals such as financial freedom.
The city’s growing health consciousness is meeting the realities of urban pressure head-on. The physical and psychological toll of long working hours, education-related stress and the always-on demands of modern society has led to a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as weight gain and other health issues.
This emerging focus on health is visible across a variety of market trends. Consumers of all ages are increasingly adopting health technologies such as fitness bands and smart rings to track sleep patterns and daily physical activity.
The market for dietary supplements is also skyrocketing and is projected to reach HK$12.7 billion in the next two years.
On top of all this, Hongkongers are becoming more aware of how much time they spend staring at their digital devices: almost two-thirds say they are addicted to their smartphones, and even more are exploring ways to cut back on excessive screen time.
So how is this growing health consciousness affecting the daily habits of Hongkongers? What options are available for those looking to prioritise their wellbeing? Are digital detox trends and emerging alternative therapies effective at offsetting the city’s relentless urban demands?
Here is what you need to know.
Healthy habits
Healthy habits are essential to living a long life, but many Hongkongers are falling short. According to a Department of Health report, almost 15 per cent of Hongkongers fail to meet the World Health Organization’s recommendation for weekly physical activity.
The WHO recommends people get between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity, each week.
Insufficient levels of physical activity
Note: Figure represents percentage of adult population that did not meet World Health Organization standards of doing at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or any equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity per week.
Source: Department of Health, Report of Health Behaviour Survey 2023
Fewer than half of Hongkongers walk an average of 10,000 steps a day. This step count is often cited as a baseline for recommended daily movement, though its precise value has been disputed.
In both daily step count and weekly physical activity, women fared worse than men.
Average daily step count of at least 10,000
But when it comes to eating enough fruit and vegetables, both genders fall well short of WHO recommendations. Only 2.7 per cent of men and 3.3 per cent of women consume at least 400 grams, or five servings, of fruit and vegetables a day.
Adequate fruit and vegetable consumption
According to WHO standards, people older than 10 years old should consume at least 400 grams, or five servings, of fruits and vegetables per day.
While smoking has long been known to be detrimental to health, there has also been increased focus on the negative effects of alcohol.
Alcohol drinking habits
Regularly consumption means at least once a week, while occasional means drinking alcohol less than once a week. Binge drinking refers to consuming at least 5 alcoholic beverages on a single occasion.
The Department of Health found that 15.9 per cent of men consumed alcohol at least once a week, compared with just 3.7 per cent of women. For binge drinking – consuming at least five alcoholic beverages on a single occasion – four times as many men as women reported doing so.
Smoking rates are also much higher among Hong Kong men, with 27.4 per cent saying they have ever smoked, compared with just 4.8 per cent of women.
Proportion of Hongkongers who have ever smoked
The health costs of city life
Among the most common health issues affecting Hongkongers are conditions seen in other rapidly ageing societies. About one-fifth of residents have hypertension, while rates of high cholesterol, musculoskeletal diseases and diabetes are also elevated.
Prevalence of chronic health conditions
Sources: Population Health Survey 2020-22, MindHK/Manulife survey on mental health
Other prevalent health issues more acutely reflect the high-pressure expectations of modern society.
Almost a third of Hongkongers are obese, while another 22 per cent are overweight. Weight issues are even more pronounced among men, with nearly 40 per cent classified as obese.
Obesity in Hong Kong
Note: Obesity is measured as having a BMI of 25.0 kg/m2 or greater, while overweight is measured as between 23.0 kg/m2 and 25.0 kg/m2.
Sources: Population Health Survey 2020-22, MindHK/Manulife survey on mental health
Mental health issues, one of the defining health concerns in recent years, are also on the rise in Hong Kong.
According to a joint survey by local NGO MindHK and Manulife, 46 per cent of Hongkongers exhibit symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Mental health issues
Sources: Population Health Survey 2020-22, MindHK/Manulife survey on mental health
Young people, who often face greater pressure in modern societies, show the highest prevalence of such symptoms. One in five Hongkongers aged 18 to 29 exhibit moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression, while 15 per cent display moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms.
Health comes first – at least in theory
According to recent surveys by global insurance provider Manulife, 46.8 per cent of Hongkongers said maintaining their physical and mental health was essential to ageing gracefully. That was higher than the 41.3 per cent who cited financial freedom, while other goals such as travelling were chosen by only about a third.
This emerging focus on wellness is borne out by other statistics from the firm. Ninety per cent of respondents said they wanted to remain self-sufficient for as long as possible, while 91 per cent said self-reliance would help them avoid burdening their family.
Hongkongers’ priorities for ageing
Sources: Manulife Asia Care Survey 2026, Manulife Asia Care Survey 2025, AXA Global Healthcare study
But there appears to be a disconnect between what Hongkongers say they prioritise and the action needed to achieve it.
While 83 per cent said that regular health check-ups were important, only 42 per cent said they actually underwent them. Nearly one-fifth of respondents said they had never had a health check-up.
Furthermore, only 38 per cent said they would seek early screenings when they suspected symptoms of a serious condition. For about half of residents, the biggest barrier was perceived cost, while nearly a third said they did not believe it was necessary.
The disconnect is even starker among men. According to a separate Axa Global Healthcare study, only a third of men said they would “act quickly” if they noticed potential health issues. By comparison, 95 per cent said they would fix a laptop within a week of it breaking.
The smartphone trap
As our lives increasingly revolve around digital devices, so too have concerns about smartphone addiction grown. While there is not yet a medical standard for measuring such behaviour, 63.4 per cent of Hongkongers admitted to being addicted to their smartphones in a recent survey by education platform Preply.
Smartphone addiction in Hong Kong
Sources: Preply "Hong Kong residents recognize smartphone addiction & consider cutting back", "Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong", City University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, The Department of Health, Centre for Health Protection
Separate survey findings released at a seminar hosted by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, a political party, earlier this year found that the city’s teenagers spent an average of six to seven hours on screens a day.
The rate was nearly double that of adults.
Among teenagers, most spent their time on activities such as gaming, streaming and social media.
Excess screen time has been linked to a range of poor health outcomes, including weight gain, sleep disruption, emotional dysregulation, attention difficulties and worsening myopia.
Smartwatches, smarter health?
Alongside the rise in health consciousness in Hong Kong is a boom in smart devices that residents can use to track everything from their sleep cycles to daily physical activity.
Wearables person
Smartwatches such as the Apple Watch or Garmin, and smart rings, are increasingly worn by residents across the city. Other brands are creating even more novel devices that are also gaining popularity.
Companies such as Elemind and Muse have created “smart headbands” that let wearers monitor some brain activity, while others are developing biometric earbuds – used to track health vitals such as body temperature – and even smart clothing.
According to a survey by Economist Impact and HSBC, 43.3 per cent of Hongkongers aged 30 to 39 owned at least one wearable digital device in 2022. Though adoption rates decline with age, a fifth of those aged 60 to 69 also said they owned one.
Digital wearable device adoption
* Percentage reflects respondents who said they owned at least one digital wearable device
Source: Economist Impact, HSBC
Organisations in Hong Kong are also tapping into the wearables boom. In 2024, charity Oxfam Hong Kong paired with LinkAQI, a local health-tech start-up, to create a wearable heatstroke detection system for outdoor cleaners in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong-developed wearable technologies
Smartwatch heat stroke detection system
PERfECT chipPersonalised AI doctor "Dr. PAI"
iActive
RTM sensory wristband
Local universities are also innovating in the sector, with researchers from the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Polytechnic University all developing novel health-tracking technologies in recent years.
Healthcare moves online
Technology is also being deployed to make accessing healthcare services easier than ever. Telehealth and online mental health services allow Hongkongers to access care remotely, through tools such as video calls and apps.
These innovations have helped more people access care by removing barriers for travel and even lowering costs.
Like most new technologies, take-up of these services is higher among younger age groups. While 42.7 per cent of those aged 30 to 39 use telehealth services, only 12.7 per cent of those aged 60 to 69 have done so.
Telehealth services
Services by age group, 2022
Online mental health services, though more popular, showed a similar trend, with 57.3 per cent of 30- to 39-year-olds using them compared with 20 per cent of those aged 60 to 69.
Online mental health services
Services by age group, 2022
Note: According to the research office, the low take-up rate for telehealth services among the elderly could be due to their preference for in-person healthcare services and the ease at which one can access in-person healthcare services in Hong Kong. However, it also added that the affordability of e-health services could also be a factor, particularly among lower socioeconomic groups.
Sources: Legislative Council Secretariat Research Office, Economist Impact, HSBC
Elderly people are often identified as the group most likely to benefit from the growth of telehealth services, owing to the frequent health and mobility problems associated with old age.
Intention to use telehealth among the elderly
Source: Chinese University of Hong Kong
A survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic found that 81.7 per cent of elderly respondents said they would accept telehealth services during a hypothetical disease outbreak.
But only 39.4 per cent said they would use such services after the pandemic subsided. The most common concerns expressed by elderly respondents to explain their apprehension about using such services related to doubts over their effectiveness and overall satisfaction compared with traditional check-ups.
Breaking free from the screen
Smartphones have become an essential part of life for many people. They are needed for work, staying connected with friends and entertainment. Increasingly, ownership of these devices begins as early as childhood.
A survey by local non-profit organisation Look Up Hong Kong and online education platform Preply found that 55 per cent of children aged between six and 10 had a smartphone. That number rises rapidly to 98 per cent for those aged 14 and older.
But the ubiquity of smartphones has also created rising awareness of their negative health effects, as outlined above. The survey found that 76.5 per cent of Hongkongers have either considered or taken action to avoid smartphone addiction.
Smartphone ownership among children
Sources: Look Up Hong Kong and Preply
This increased awareness of smartphone dependency has spurred a movement among people seeking to break free from their devices through a process known as a digital detox.
Digital detoxes usually involve a series of conscious measures to separate oneself from digital devices.
Actions frequently cited by experts include limiting social media use and shutting down devices at certain times of the day. Other advice includes leaving smartphones in separate rooms when not in use and relying on traditional alarm clocks to wake up in the morning.
Drop in symptoms after one-week social media detox
Source: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre
Digital detoxes can result in measurable improvements to people’s mental health. One study by the US-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre found that a one-week digital detox can reduce symptoms of depression by as much as 24.8 per cent.
The study also showed improvements in anxiety and insomnia, with symptoms dropping by 16.1 per cent and 14.5 per cent, respectively.
The supplement boom
Beyond adopting the latest technologies, Hongkongers are also increasingly conscious of their diets and what they put into their bodies. This is evident in the booming health supplements market in the city.
According to a market survey by consultancy Frost & Sullivan, retail sales of health supplements in Hong Kong grew from HK$9 billion to HK$10 billion between 2019 and 2023. By 2028, the firm estimated retail sales could reach HK$12.7 billion.
The key drivers behind this boom identified in the report included rising health consciousness, the city’s ageing population and a rebound in tourism.
A separate survey by the Hong Kong Health Food Association found that 62.9 per cent of residents had taken health supplements in the past six months. On average, Hongkongers spent a little over HK$780 a month on such supplements.
Health supplement trends in Hong Kong
Number of Hongkongers who had taken health supplements in past 6 months
Source: Hong Kong Health Food Association “Survey on Health Supplement Market in Hong Kong 2024”
Vitamins and minerals were the most popular health supplement category, chosen by 56.2 per cent of those surveyed. Probiotics were second at 36.8 per cent, while Chinese supplements were third at 26.8 per cent.
Popular supplements are often vitamins that are readily found in food, such as calcium, iron and magnesium. These can help with areas such as bone health, preventing anaemia and stress reduction, respectively.
Popular health supplement choices among Hongkongers
Source: Hong Kong Health Food Association “Survey on Health Supplement Market in Hong Kong 2024”
Other popular health supplements include zinc, which can improve cell function; protein powder for strength; and probiotics for gut health.
One trendier option in recent years has been nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a vitamin B3-related compound promoted for anti-ageing and metabolic benefits.
Retail sales value of Hong Kong’s health supplements market (HK$ b)
* indicates projected estimates
Key drivers of rising health supplement market
1 Rising health consciousness
2 Ageing population
3 Rebound of tourism
Source: Frost & Sullivan "Hong Kong’s Health Supplements Market Analysis and Competitive Landscape"
Many experts say that eating a well-balanced diet consisting of whole foods is sufficient to reach nutrient goals and that supplements are only necessary for those with specific deficiencies.
Tapping into alternative therapies
Even as new health technologies regularly come to market, people are also increasingly turning to other forms of traditional and alternative therapies to reach their health goals, including some with historic roots tracing back millennia.
Last year, the World Health Organization unveiled a Traditional Medicine Strategy stretching to 2034. The blueprint sets out specific directives for jurisdictions to regulate the development of what it calls “traditional, complementary and integrative medicine” (TCIM).
Strategic objectives in WHO blueprint
1 Strengthens the evidence base for TCIM
2 Supports the provision of safe and effective TCIM through appropriate regulatory mechanisms
3 Integrates safe and effective TCIM into health systems
4 Optimises the cross-sector value of TCIM and empowers communities
Source: WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034
Among the forms of TCIM recognised by the WHO is traditional Chinese medicine, which traces its roots back thousands of years and is widely popular in Hong Kong.
Examples of alternative therapies available in Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese medicine
History/origin
ChinaTargets
Focuses on disease prevention, symptom treatment and health maintenance
AyurvedaHistory/origin
IndiaTargets
Prevents illness, promotes wellness and balances the body and mindSound healing/
gong bathHistory/origin
China/Southeast AsiaTargets
Relieves stress and promotes relaxation
HypnotherapyHistory/origin
EuropeTargets
Relieves stress, promotes relaxation and improves habits
Art therapyHistory/origin
EuropeTargets
Supports psychological well-being and self-expression
Music therapyHistory/origin
China/Ancient GreeceTargets
Supports physical, emotional and cognitive health
Other forms of alternative therapy available in Hong Kong include Ayurveda, which traces its roots to the Indian subcontinent, as well as sound healing, hypnotherapy, art therapy and music therapy.
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