The Student Health Service (SHS), under the Department of Health, today released its Annual Health Report for the 2024-25 school year, documenting that excessive weight and recreational screen time remain prevalent among primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong. It also found that visual health remains unsatisfactory.

In the 2024-25 school year, about 256,000 primary school students and 172,000 secondary school students received free annual health assessments at the department's Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs).

The assessment found that the prevalence of being overweight among students was 17.5%, up 0.4% year on year.

Moreover, 93.6% of students reported insufficient levels of daily physical activity, i.e. not undertaking at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity.

In addition, 89.4% of students reported an inadequate daily intake of fruit and vegetables.

The Government launched an inaugural Action Plan on Weight Management earlier this month, aiming to promote weight management across the city through various activities and initiatives.

According to the data from the department's health assessment questionnaires, in the 2024-25 school year 41.8% of primary school students reported spending two hours or more using the Internet or electronic screen products for recreational purposes on a typical school day. Among secondary school students, the corresponding proportion was 81.1%.

The department recommends children aged between six and 12 years old limit recreational screen time to less than two hours a day.

It highlighted that it established an “Advisory Group on Health Effects of Screen & Social Media Use for Children & Adolescents” in October last year, adding that the group aims to issue updated health recommendations before the end of this year.

Regarding students’ visual health, the proportion of Primary One students wearing glasses was 14.5%, while that of Primary Six students stood at 55.1%.

Among primary and secondary school students who had their visual acuity tested in the 2024-25 school year, 17.3% required further assessment by the SHS or private optometrists due to failing a preliminary test, or other eye or visual problems.

In terms of psychosocial well-being, 96% of students reported that they enjoyed or very much enjoyed family life, while 93.8% of students said they enjoyed or very much enjoyed school life.

Meanwhile, 1.6% of students reported having planned to commit suicide in the past 12 months, and 0.7% said they had attempted to do so. Both figures were lower than that in the previous school year.

In the current school year, the Government has regularised a preventative Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism in all secondary schools in Hong Kong. The mechanism has also been extended on a trial basis to Primary Four to Six students to ensure early identification and support for students at higher risk of suicide.

Separately, the Department of Health will prepare individualised health reports for each school participating in the Whole School Health Programme. This will involve recommending measures relating to physical activity, diet and other matters with a view to improving students’ physical and psychological well-being.

As of early March, 891 schools – accounting for more than 75% of primary and secondary schools in the city – had joined the programme.

The department also highlighted that the SHS has fully implemented an Online Enrolment Scheme to streamline enrolment.

Enrolment for the annual health assessment service during the 2025-26 school year is now open.

Students who have not yet enrolled can submit an online application through GovHK, or complete an Application & Consent Form and submit it to their designated SHSC along with the required documents by email, post or fax.