Periscope

Do you do exercise?

Opinions of Hong Kong citizens on doing exercise

Yes

Amy Au Yia-to, 29, Unemployed
“I dance and play bowling every week. I also spin a hula hoop 500 times a day, and I have been practising that for more than three years. I find it really useful to keep fit.”

Wong Ho-man, 30, government officer
“I do jogging four times a week. I want to stay healthy.”

No

Ng Yuk-hong, 36, trading firm worker
“I don't really like sports because I don't have time. If you say one will be unhealthy because of not doing exercise, I am not afraid of it.”

Wong Mau-fung, 18, student
“I like playing football and basketball. I used to play once or twice a week. But I am busy with my studies now. It is impossible for me to spend such a long time on sports.”

What the expert says:

Advice from Cheung Siu-yin, professor of physical education at the Hong Kong Baptist University

Importance of doing exercise

Human body functioning begins to decline from 25 years old onwards. The declining rate will slow down if one does exercise. It is important to exercise regularly.

Doing exercise improves the blood circulation and that makes a person look bright and healthy. The body muscle will also become firm by exercising. That will give a good body figure. The results are more effective and long-lasting than that of taking dieting pills. At the same time, endorphin, a chemical that improves people's mood and eases pain, will be released into the brain during exercise. That, in effect, helps people maintain good spirits and better relationships with others.

Doing exercise in daily life

It is ideal for people to take 30 minutes of exercise a day. Do warm-up exercise in the first five minutes. Then, do a chosen sport for 20 minutes. Finally, let oneself cool down in the last five minutes.

Yet, taking 30 minutes of exercise may not be achievable as most people lead hectic lives. People can then try to make use of the elements of sports in their daily lives. For instance, they can get off the bus at one stop earlier to walk for at least several minutes.

If one can only walk for several minutes when they travel to work and back home, that is better than taking no exercise at all.