The Department of Health has garnered support from the Education & Manpower Bureau and three headmasters associations to conduct a series of promotion and education campaigns on healthy eating for primary students.

Assistant Director of Health (Health Promotion) Dr Regina Ching said on a radio programme today the department will invite two parents and two teachers from each primary school to attend workshops that teach the importance of healthy eating.

The obesity rate for students grew from 16.4% in 1997-98 to 18.7% in 2004-05.

"The lunches they eat at schools are too greasy, salty and sweet, which is not good to their growth and health, and eating snacks like chips makes the problem worse," Dr Ching said.

"In the long run, these unhealthy foods may make them more vulnerable to diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure."

Dr Ching said most of the schools and food suppliers she contacted have responded favourably to the healthy eating campaign, with some of them saying they will consider revising the lunch menu, making it healthier.

She said the campaign's success depends on the co-operation and support of schools, parents and food suppliers.