https://www.scmp.com/rss/24/feed All the latest fashion and beauty news, style advice and tried-and-tested products en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. All about Hong Kong’s herbal teas and how Gen Z is reviving the health tradition Long before modern chain pharmacies and over-the-counter painkillers were readily available in Hong Kong, there were leung cha: intensely bitter herbal “cooling teas” brewed in massive brass cauldrons in traditional open-front shops. 2. How... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368592/hong-kongs-gen-z-revives-herbal-teas-experts-couple-intimacy-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368592/hong-kongs-gen-z-revives-herbal-teas-experts-couple-intimacy-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:15:06 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu When Kevin Cureau first spoke to his oncologist about the mass behind his knee, he was not stressed out. “It was more, ‘Oh, this is just something I have to get through.’ I wasn’t scared or anything,” says Cureau, 37, a French-Chinese cancer survivor born and living in Hong Kong who was diagnosed with stage-three liposarcoma in late 2025. Cureau took the news so calmly that even his doctor was a little surprised. But he admits that, at the time, he did not fully understand what liposarcoma was.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368369/i-wasnt-scared-young-hong-kong-rare-cancer-survivor-who-stayed-positive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368369/i-wasnt-scared-young-hong-kong-rare-cancer-survivor-who-stayed-positive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 98th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. Dementia news is almost relentlessly grim – a steady drumbeat of rising cases and elusive cures. More bad news came in 2025, when semaglutide, the blockbuster GLP-1 drug celebrated for treating diabetes, obesity and various other conditions, failed to slow Alzheimer’s progression. The setback prompted semaglutide’s developer, Novo Nordisk, to pull the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3368006/why-dementia-preventable-and-new-tools-can-reduce-your-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Lisa Cam,Ashlyn Chak Lisa Cam,Ashlyn Chak In the first instalment of a four-part Health Matters series on traditional Chinese medicine, Lisa Cam and Ashlyn Chak explore how a new generation of health-conscious youth is discovering century-old leung cha and helping neighbourhood tea shop owners safeguard a dying trade. Long before modern chain pharmacies and over-the-counter painkillers were readily available in Hong Kong, there were leung cha: intensely bitter herbal “cooling teas” brewed in massive brass cauldrons in traditional... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367808/guide-hong-kongs-bitter-herbal-teas-and-how-gen-z-reviving-health-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367808/guide-hong-kongs-bitter-herbal-teas-and-how-gen-z-reviving-health-tradition?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan Recently, an acquaintance told me about her brother’s marriage break-up. “They had sex once in eight years,” she said – as if that were the sole reason. It would not have been: the couple’s collapsing relationship was the reason. The absence of sex – except for that single occasion in eight years – was a symptom that likely made it worse. It raises the question, though: is there a sweet spot for sex in a relationship? How many times a week or a month should we be “doing it” to keep a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366995/how-much-sex-should-couple-have-focus-quality-over-quantity-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366995/how-much-sex-should-couple-have-focus-quality-over-quantity-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick For many professionals, finding an hour for the gym is about as feasible as finding an extra day in the week. There are deadlines, family obligations, late-night calls and the small matter of getting enough sleep. That is why “exercise snacks” – or micro-workouts – have become so appealing. Rather than reserving exercise for a long session, the approach breaks activity into short bouts: a brisk climb up stairs, a few squats between meetings or an interval session squeezed into a lunch break. The... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367852/no-time-gym-how-micro-workouts-could-help-busy-professionals-improve-their-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367852/no-time-gym-how-micro-workouts-could-help-busy-professionals-improve-their-health?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung With fine weather forecast in Hong Kong for the coming few days, it’s a sign to spend the day outside this weekend. Whether that’s shopping, eating, drinking or exercising, you’re sure to find something on this list. Read on for all the details. 1. Rooftop Moonlit Market Start the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations early with the Rooftop Moonlit Market in Lai Chi Kok on Saturday, September 19. Along with local bites, handmade crafts, live music and a full afternoon of family-friendly activities,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3367693/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-18-20?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3367693/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-18-20?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:15:06 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam At 89, many rely on glasses or hearing aids. Wu Bin needs neither. Daily runs and regular football games keep the legendary martial arts coach of action icon Jet Li in fighting form. Wu is a convincing advertisement for the wellness benefits of lifelong discipline. He still travels widely and recently presided over the 18th Hong Kong International Wushu Competition, where Dragon He, the son of another of Wu’s former students, Jaden He Jingde, was competing. A founder of the Beijing Wushu Team,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367392/how-jet-lis-trainer-wu-bin-89-ages-well-and-still-nurtures-martial-arts-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367392/how-jet-lis-trainer-wu-bin-89-ages-well-and-still-nurtures-martial-arts-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 03:00:04 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis For most people, bedtime is a routine matter of turning off the lights and hoping for eight hours of rest. For David R Samson, an associate professor of evolutionary anthropology, it often means venturing deep into the wild or far back in evolutionary time. Whether sleeping high in the forest canopy to study chimpanzees or joining the Hadza tribe in remote Tanzania, Samson’s Indiana Jones-style fieldwork exposes the ancient roots of human slumber. As director of the Sleep and Human Evolution Lab... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367177/why-sleeping-less-apes-helped-humans-become-earths-dominant-species?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3367177/why-sleeping-less-apes-helped-humans-become-earths-dominant-species?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu The peak summer heat is finally easing in Hong Kong, and a lot is going on in the city in the coming days. Whether you are in the mood to check out cool art, browse exclusive fashion pop-ups or go on a forest soundwalk, here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. Chilai Howard at the Goethe-Institut Hong Kong interdisciplinary designer and artist Chilai Howard’s solo exhibition, “A Self-Portrait: The Process of Erasing” is running at the Goethe-Institut Hongkong until October 6.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3366989/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-11-13?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3366989/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-11-13?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:15:05 +0000 Amy Wu Amy Wu The symptoms started a little before my 50th birthday in December. I pride myself on healthy living, and my gauge of good health has always been consistency: are sleep, eating, digestion and period cycle regular? Now the clockwork was off, if only slightly. My hypervigilance was born more than a decade earlier in Hong Kong, where I lived from 2009 to 2013 while working as a journalist. In 2013, at age 37 with no family history, I was treated for stage 0 breast cancer – the earliest detectable... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366711/12-years-after-surviving-breast-cancer-new-health-scare-tests-american-journalist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366711/12-years-after-surviving-breast-cancer-new-health-scare-tests-american-journalist?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:01:45 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 97th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers and stories of hope. The seeds of dementia may be sown long before our first birthday – or even before we are born. New research shows that while risks such as high blood pressure and cholesterol compound over decades, early sugar exposure can harm the brain before we take our first breath. A study by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) published in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366317/why-too-much-sugar-early-life-even-womb-could-increase-your-dementia-risk-later?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366317/why-too-much-sugar-early-life-even-womb-could-increase-your-dementia-risk-later?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 23:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times More consumers are choosing whole wheat bread over white bread in the interest of health. But many products sold as whole wheat bread are not what they appear to be. To identify genuine whole wheat bread, consumers should check whether whole wheat flour is listed as the first ingredient. Some “whole wheat” bread products are made primarily with refined wheat flour, with a small amount of whole wheat added and caramel colouring – or other colourants – to give the bread a darker... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366353/whole-wheat-bread-isnt-always-what-it-seems-dangers-flour-fakes-and-how-spot-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366353/whole-wheat-bread-isnt-always-what-it-seems-dangers-flour-fakes-and-how-spot-them?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 07:15:05 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam If you think this summer has been brutal, imagine how it feels for our pets, especially dogs. Whether cooped up in air-conditioned flats or kept in outdoor village compounds, dogs face severe physical and psychological strain during extreme weather. This link between environmental stress and pet reactivity comes amid a greater community focus on dog behaviour and safety in urban spaces. Hong Kong has recorded its hottest summer on record. Climate change is not only raising temperatures but also... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366301/how-take-care-your-dog-during-hong-kongs-summer-heat-and-thunderstorms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3366301/how-take-care-your-dog-during-hong-kongs-summer-heat-and-thunderstorms?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 04:15:06 +0000 Emma White Emma White For more than two decades of Janet Leung’s life, hunger replaced her joy. After losing her father, endless food maths filled her head, drowning out other thoughts. Her anxiety around eating kept others at a distance. Miserable as she was, Leung could not give up this distraction; it offered an escape from the sideways glances and judgment that she endured in her youth. Hidden inside the grown-up was a 16-year-old girl, stuck in an environment that demanded perfection. Patching a ‘broken... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365952/hong-kong-womans-20-year-eating-disorder-after-dads-death-and-how-she-recovered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365952/hong-kong-womans-20-year-eating-disorder-after-dads-death-and-how-she-recovered?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 03:00:05 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Fresh off the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Hong Kong-born Tammy Wong is still buzzing – and not just from the adrenaline. The 30-year-old weightlifter, who represented England in the women’s 48kg category, finished with a combined total of 160kg (352lbs), just 7kg shy of a podium finish, and five off her own personal best. A three-time champion of British Weight Lifting’s British Championships, Wong played hockey as a child, continuing through university while going to the gym on the side.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365834/hong-kong-born-weightlifting-champion-tammy-wong-strength-fear-and-femininity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365834/hong-kong-born-weightlifting-champion-tammy-wong-strength-fear-and-femininity?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Most of us probably would not contemplate going for a run in jeans or tackling a HIIT class in an everyday bra, yet the underwear beneath our gym kit tends to receive considerably less thought. But with sweat, friction and tight-fitting gym clothes all potentially affecting intimate skin, perhaps it deserves more consideration. From moisture-wicking seamless briefs to plastic-free thongs, there are now plenty of pairs designed – or marketed – specifically for exercise, but do we actually need... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365599/brief-guide-choosing-right-underwear-workouts-and-mistakes-avoid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365599/brief-guide-choosing-right-underwear-workouts-and-mistakes-avoid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 20:15:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan David, who is in his forties and works in finance in Hong Kong, does not remember a life without hepatitis B, a viral infection of the liver. “I have been a … carrier for as long as I can remember,” he says. “I found out early on as a child since I was born with it – my mother is a carrier, too.” David’s experience is far from unusual in Hong Kong. According to Dr Loey Mak Lung-yi, a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology, mother-to-child transmissions account for more than 90 per cent of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365315/what-hepatitis-b-viral-infection-1-20-hongkongers-has-many-unaware?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365315/what-hepatitis-b-viral-infection-1-20-hongkongers-has-many-unaware?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Watching Paul Goodson conquer Hong Kong’s gruelling trail runs and blaze through Hyrox arenas, it is hard to imagine that nine years ago he was trapped in an obese body that was failing him. In 2017, at the age of 29, Goodson weighed 150kg (330lbs). Sleepless nights drove him to the doctor. The verdict was devastating – severe sleep apnoea and a warning that he might not live to see 30. Compounding the crisis was another diagnosis – binge eating disorder (BED). He would regularly gorge on food... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365161/how-150kg-teacher-lost-66kg-after-being-told-he-might-not-live-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3365161/how-150kg-teacher-lost-66kg-after-being-told-he-might-not-live-30?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 96th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. A quiet heartbreak is unfolding behind the closed doors of dementia care, one that few carers dare to speak about openly: the ebb of physical intimacy. A tentative question posted to an online dementia carer support group sparked a flurry of moving responses. That question: “I really don’t know how to approach this subject, but I’m wondering who is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364807/how-navigate-sex-and-intimacy-when-dementia-changes-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364807/how-navigate-sex-and-intimacy-when-dementia-changes-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Aug 2026 23:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa Oat, soy, almond – look in anyone’s fridge or head to a cafe and you might find a slew of plant-based drinks. We hear multiple claims about health and the environment, but are these drinks actually – as is so often claimed – better than cow’s milk, better for the climate or better for those of us with allergies? Some of these claims are true, some are not. Our fact-checkers assess seven popular statements. 1. Plant-based drinks are healthier than cow’s milk False. Milk and dairy products... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364671/milk-vs-plant-based-alternatives-7-claims-put-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364671/milk-vs-plant-based-alternatives-7-claims-put-test?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Mythily Ramachandran Mythily Ramachandran My friend Sunita* did not see it coming. Her messages went ignored, and calls were dismissed. The truth hit when her daughter blocked her completely. Sunita could not fathom why: she had always encouraged open communication with her children. The child who had once loved and admired her now called her “toxic” and severed ties. Sunita slipped into depression, unable to sleep or do household chores, haunted by one question: “What did I do wrong?” She missed her daughter. Fond memories of the past... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364659/parental-estrangement-rise-asia-why-do-adult-children-go-no-contact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364659/parental-estrangement-rise-asia-why-do-adult-children-go-no-contact?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Morning Studio editors Morning Studio editors People often hold many different roles throughout their lives. For Dr Francis Chan Ka-leung, those include professor, researcher, entrepreneur and collector. “I’ve been a restless person since I was a kid,” says the professor of medicine and therapeutics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). “I tend to follow my heart at different times, including practising medicine, teaching students and doing research.” Although this range of roles satisfies the side of Chan that craves variety, his... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/longevity-blueprint/article/3363851/medical-research-collecting-antiques-cuhk-professor-believes-preserving-lifes-valuables?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/longevity-blueprint/article/3363851/medical-research-collecting-antiques-cuhk-professor-believes-preserving-lifes-valuables?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:00:07 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales At 66, Canny Chan laced up her first pair of ballet shoes, chasing a childhood dream to dance like a prima ballerina. Two years later, the Hong Kong retiree can effortlessly glide through basic routines and move gracefully to music – a proud physical feat in itself. But what most surprised her was not her improved flexibility; it was the sudden sharpness of her mind. She never imagined that the dance form would help her think and feel better, too. “Not only has my overall physical form and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364245/how-ballet-helps-these-seniors-keep-their-bodies-and-brains-feeling-young?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3364245/how-ballet-helps-these-seniors-keep-their-bodies-and-brains-feeling-young?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The first night in a new place is always the same for Robinson Leoni: he takes longer to fall asleep, wakes up more often during the night and gets less sleep overall. At home he averages seven hours. The first night away – with or without earplugs and regardless of the bed’s quality – his smartwatch tells him he gets about five. “I feel normal, you know, no stress, nothing, but it’s just I notice I wake up continuously,” Leoni says. He is a sales director for a tech company and travels once or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364050/why-first-night-hotel-affects-your-sleep-quality-and-how-improve-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3364050/why-first-night-hotel-affects-your-sleep-quality-and-how-improve-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Aug 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis You have likely experienced some form of the late-night mental loop: replaying a terse exchange with a colleague, wondering about a loved one’s subtle shift in tone, or worrying about a symptom you googled. Overthinking has become a modern buzzword blamed for wrecking everything from emotional well-being to personal relationships and professional careers. More than just “thinking hard”, it is a specific, destructive cognitive trap recognised by neuroscience. Understanding how it works is the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363972/what-overthinking-how-recognise-it-and-stop-feedback-loop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363972/what-overthinking-how-recognise-it-and-stop-feedback-loop?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur In April 2025, Singapore resident Attan bin Talib stood at a crossroads. At 65, the oil and gas refinery technician carried not just the weight of decades of shift work, but also the burden of 90kg (198lbs) on his frame. The number on the scale had crept upwards slowly over the years, yet it was not the digits that finally jolted him awake, but his body’s warning signs that something had to change. Climbing the ladders at the Aster Chemicals and Energy refinery left him breathless. Kneeling in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363520/how-66-year-old-lost-10kg-10-months-his-inspiring-fitness-journey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363520/how-66-year-old-lost-10kg-10-months-his-inspiring-fitness-journey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Morning Studio editors Morning Studio editors Nobody has a crystal ball to see the future, but we can observe what is in front of us, combine it with experience and make an educated guess. That is what Wilton Kee, the newly appointed CEO of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, has been professionally trained to do. He has spent his actuarial career looking at variables, assessing risk and planning ahead. And as he worked his way up the ladder, he also came to the realisation that the same thinking could be applied to his personal health. “I set... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/longevity-blueprint/article/3362920/hong-kong-insurance-industry-veteran-sees-exercise-smart-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/longevity-blueprint/article/3362920/hong-kong-insurance-industry-veteran-sees-exercise-smart-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 95th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Mrs Lee noticed it first in a grocery list. Her husband, a retired lawyer who once commanded a courtroom and remembered legal cases for years, began writing the same items two or three times on the list: bread, eggs, soap, eggs, butter, bread. At first, she ignored it – do we not all get scatty with age? Perhaps her husband was distracted... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363243/how-well-does-your-country-approach-alzheimers-support-new-tool-reveals-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363243/how-well-does-your-country-approach-alzheimers-support-new-tool-reveals-all?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales Hong Kong boasts the world’s highest life expectancy, but living longer does not always mean living well. Beneath the longevity statistics lies a quiet crisis: “hidden malnutrition” among the elderly, who consume enough calories to survive, yet suffer from severe, unseen nutrient deficiencies that silently strip away their independence. Decreasing mobility, shrinking appetites and tiny flats influence how the city’s older adults eat. Calorie needs naturally drop with age, but the body’s demand... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363012/how-hong-kongs-elderly-face-hidden-malnutrition-risk-and-expert-tips-staying-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3363012/how-hong-kongs-elderly-face-hidden-malnutrition-risk-and-expert-tips-staying-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Aug 2026 23:15:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Are Hong Kong’s restaurants fighting a losing battle against Shenzhen? In Hong Kong neighbourhoods that once hummed with the sound of clinking glasses and chattering diners, independent kitchens sit closed behind metal grilles and many of the restaurants that remain open rarely fill. 2. Hong Kong TV star Kenneth Chan... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363111/hong-kongs-dining-battle-tv-host-fights-insomnia-depression-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3363111/hong-kongs-dining-battle-tv-host-fights-insomnia-depression-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:15:05 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Hong Kong rockers Candy Lo Hau-yam and Sammy So Ho-choy have both lived the classic rock star existence: late nights in smoke-filled band rooms, heavy drinking and a diet dictated by irregular hours. Today, the happily married couple are better known for an entirely different pursuit: their shared love of long-distance running. Both started out in the indie rock scene: Lo, 51, debuted as a singer in 1998, while So, 47, rose to fame in 2005 as the lead vocalist of pop-rock group Kolor. But behind... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3362758/how-running-helped-hong-kong-rock-n-roll-couple-overcome-anxiety-and-depression?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3362758/how-running-helped-hong-kong-rock-n-roll-couple-overcome-anxiety-and-depression?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Aug 2026 03:01:01 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed healthcare for hundreds of millions of people in China. AI-powered apps help them manage their health and seek care, while others help doctors better diagnose and treat their patients. AI analysis of routine scans detects cancers and other conditions physicians might have missed. Personalised cancer vaccines built on AI analysis will soon begin rolling off production lines in China. The country’s leading tech companies have poured resources into... https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3362783/will-ai-healthcare-be-chinas-new-global-growth-engine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/tech/big-tech/article/3362783/will-ai-healthcare-be-chinas-new-global-growth-engine?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:12:53 +0000 Emma White Emma White When Kenneth Chan Kai-tai was young, he watched his mother battle severe depression. She had constant doctors’ appointments and took many different medicines. She endured frequent anxiety attacks and became hysterical when no one was around. There were times when Chan had to protect her from herself. Chan was too young to know how to help her. He hugged her as tightly as he could, trying to keep her safe. Eventually, given time and care, she started to become herself again. He never thought that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3362073/how-hong-kong-tv-star-kenneth-chan-overcame-insomnia-and-depression-after-years-anguish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3362073/how-hong-kong-tv-star-kenneth-chan-overcame-insomnia-and-depression-after-years-anguish?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales Over the last several weeks, Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland has captured the interest of World Cup fans around the globe for reasons that go further than his extraordinary performances on the pitch. Beyond his eclectic fashion sense and luxury designer bags, and his goofy off-field personality that has everyone talking, the tall, blond-haired striker for Premier League club Manchester City has also gained widespread attention for his rigorous wellness routine, which revolves around... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3362072/how-erling-haaland-gets-great-sleep-and-its-role-fighting-chronic-inflammation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3362072/how-erling-haaland-gets-great-sleep-and-its-role-fighting-chronic-inflammation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam For Kenneth Lee, his attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) means he has always been interested in learning different things. “I took visual arts and history, and I learned Photoshop just so I could personalise the cards for the online game Game of Heroes: Three Kingdoms,” recalls the 31-year-old product designer of his student days. (Three Kingdoms was an online card-strategy game popular in Hong Kong in the 2000s in which players were assigned a historical character that could be... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3362066/harry-potter-meets-hong-kong-pop-culture-viral-instagram-posts-powered-adhd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3362066/harry-potter-meets-hong-kong-pop-culture-viral-instagram-posts-powered-adhd?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 94th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Staying out of the hospital is one of the quiet secrets of “super-agers”, older adults whose memories remain as sharp as people decades younger. While strong bones protect us from fall-related fractures that trigger age-accelerating hospital stays, their connection to brain health runs much deeper than mere physical protection. This deeper connection... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361692/why-your-bones-could-be-key-better-brain-health-and-becoming-super-ager?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361692/why-your-bones-could-be-key-better-brain-health-and-becoming-super-ager?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jul 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick Hyrox, CrossFit, ultra-endurance trail runs – highly challenging activities such as these are popular in Hong Kong. The appeal is obvious: taking part in them makes ordinary people feel heroic. And in a city hooked on achievement, they have become a kind of status symbol. But the popularity of such events is causing many Hong Kong people in midlife to be stung by what might be called “extreme fitness FOMO”, or the desire to do more than their bodies, schedules and recovery capacity can sensibly... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361536/why-extreme-fitness-fomo-can-do-more-harm-good-people-40-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361536/why-extreme-fitness-fomo-can-do-more-harm-good-people-40-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Audrey Jiajia Li Audrey Jiajia Li Growing up as an only child in China, I thought I knew exactly what parental love looked like. Around me, many parents seemed to carry an invisible ledger. Sacrifice was the moral currency of the day, invoked to justify good grades, prestigious careers and lifelong gratitude. Love and guilt often came as a package deal. “Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed for you?” was so ubiquitous that it became a suffocating childhood refrain. The self-sacrificing mother is by no means unique to China, or... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3361405/self-sacrificing-chinese-mother-i-never-wanted-become?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3361405/self-sacrificing-chinese-mother-i-never-wanted-become?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jul 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Tara and Sushila Thapa, from Dehradun, an Indian city nestled in the Himalayan foothills, are rewriting the script on what fitness can look like in our fifties. Their journey is proof that health and wellness are not shaped by age as much as by the moment we choose to begin. For them, that moment arrived in midlife. Tara, 59, runs a shop repairing televisions and electronic items; Sushila, 56, works as an insurance agent. For decades, their lives had revolved around working long hours, raising... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361708/how-indian-influencer-couple-got-fit-after-50-beat-back-pain-and-knee-pain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361708/how-indian-influencer-couple-got-fit-after-50-beat-back-pain-and-knee-pain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:15:10 +0000 dpa dpa We all know how easy it is to get hooked on scrolling, but what does this endless activity actually do to our brains? The core mechanism of infinite scrolling is similar to slot machines, explains Matteo Parissi, a registered and chartered forensic psychologist and head of psychology at Cygnet Hospital Harrow in the UK. “Our brain does not know when the next rewarding piece of content will appear, so each swipe while scrolling has the possibility of getting a reward,” he says. “For our brain... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361410/how-infinite-scrolling-hijacks-brains-reward-system-slot-machines-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361410/how-infinite-scrolling-hijacks-brains-reward-system-slot-machines-do?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:15:05 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Yul Kwon rises at 6am and starts his day with stretches and a fitness regimen that includes planking for 60 to 90 seconds, 50 sit-ups, 50 squats, and standing on one leg for a minute and then the other – twice. He then eats a banana and, every other day, he heads out for a 10km (6.2-mile) run. That is an impressive regular warm-up for a 90-year-old. “Health is most important, so I put priority on my daily exercise,” says the sprightly Korean-Canadian, a retired economics professor living in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361302/hes-90-and-still-runs-half-marathons-how-retired-korean-canadian-defies-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361302/hes-90-and-still-runs-half-marathons-how-retired-korean-canadian-defies-age?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jul 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Jeans that fit perfectly. The ideal Netflix show for a Tuesday night. Your one and only soulmate. Modern life promises that with enough options, you will happily find the best of everything. But behavioural scientists say the increasing flood of choices – whether it comes to shopping, social lives or relationships – is doing the opposite. The idea that more choice is better is baked into Western culture, but research shows that having more options can make people anxious, indecisive and,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361293/why-more-choice-bad-you-and-how-streamline-decision-making?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361293/why-more-choice-bad-you-and-how-streamline-decision-making?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:15:06 +0000 Morning Studio editors Morning Studio editors Nicola Cheung may have retired as a television and film actress in 2005, but she continues to play multiple roles. In addition to being a devoted mother of four, she is also co‑founder of LoCoFarms, a social enterprise that aims to revitalise Hong Kong’s agricultural heritage by connecting local growers with food artisans. Cheung describes herself as a “slasher” – a person with multiple identities. Although her acting career helped develop her confidence and creativity, she believes becoming a... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/longevity-blueprint/article/3360607/former-actress-nicola-cheung-finds-her-most-rewarding-roles-parent-and-entrepreneur?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/health-wellness/topics/longevity-blueprint/article/3360607/former-actress-nicola-cheung-finds-her-most-rewarding-roles-parent-and-entrepreneur?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani Trading a career on Wall Street for acupuncture needles and Chinese herbs is a move few would have expected from the daughter of one of Hong Kong’s best-known surgeons – least of all Winnie Chan Wang herself. For Wang, who grew up in Hong Kong, medicine centred on operating theatres, scalpels and science. Her father, Dr Patrick Chan Ki-wing, now in his early 80s, is still practising as an honorary consultant and specialist in general surgery at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital. “I grew up... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360790/how-chronic-pain-and-near-death-experience-saw-wall-street-trader-pivot-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360790/how-chronic-pain-and-near-death-experience-saw-wall-street-trader-pivot-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Growing up in the US state of New Jersey, Jessica Sikora felt different from other children. Her traditional, religious Filipino parents imposed strict rules and curfews. “My parents pulled a lot of their traditional Asian parenting from their own upbringing,” the now 34-year-old says, which was often at odds with the more relaxed American parenting style. She was not allowed to go to sleepovers and missed out on social gatherings, making it hard to make friends. “By age 13, I was depressed. I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360873/saved-my-life-how-music-fandoms-help-gen-z-mental-health-and-feeling-connection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360873/saved-my-life-how-music-fandoms-help-gen-z-mental-health-and-feeling-connection?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press With one of their arms raised and the other lowered, hundreds of people move every morning like birds spreading their wings at the heart of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. They are performing a movement in tai chi, a physical and philosophical practice developed more than 300 years ago that continues to resonate in China today. “The environment is great and the air is good too,” Ye Guirong, 64, says. “You can see we’re surrounded by trees.” Most practitioners are retirees in their 60s and beyond.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360749/everyones-health-has-improved-how-tai-chi-energises-these-chinese-retirees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360749/everyones-health-has-improved-how-tai-chi-energises-these-chinese-retirees?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:15:05 +0000 dpa dpa Skimping on sleep leads to weight gain at the rate of one pound (453 grams) in six weeks, a small study suggests. Experts from Columbia University in New York found that shortening the amount of sleep by 80 minutes nightly led to one pound on average weight gain, and people were more likely to spend time sitting down and being sedentary. “Our study shows that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes,” says study... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360608/how-chronic-sleep-loss-can-cause-05kg-weight-gain-every-6-weeks-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360608/how-chronic-sleep-loss-can-cause-05kg-weight-gain-every-6-weeks-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:15:05 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson What does an extreme endurance runner carry in their grab bag? For many, the essential items include energy gels, blister bandages, extra socks and a GPS watch. But for Larry Grogin, a 71-year-old chiropractor and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner from the US state of New Jersey, it was a selection of acupuncture needles and Chinese herbs. He would self-administer these nightly during his recent feat: running a marathon every day for 100 days to raise money for Parkinson’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360534/how-71-year-old-parkinsons-ran-100-marathons-100-days-help-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360534/how-71-year-old-parkinsons-ran-100-marathons-100-days-help-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:00:48 +0000 Aaina Bhargava Aaina Bhargava In a world where wars, geopolitical uncertainty, the threat of AI domination and social media seemingly influence all aspects of life, ordinary people have plenty to be stressed about. Of the dozens of spiritual and wellness trends that have emerged to combat anxiety and stress, meditation is perhaps the most touted. As the head of the Chinmaya Mission – a global movement that aims to help people find spiritual awakening for a happy and harmonious world – Swami Swaroopananda is often asked about... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360101/spiritual-leader-swami-swaroopananda-charm-hong-kong-he-visits-former-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3360101/spiritual-leader-swami-swaroopananda-charm-hong-kong-he-visits-former-home?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2026 07:15:06 +0000